





























* 


































































































I 


NTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, 


WASHINGTON, D. C. 


VENEZUELA 


1EOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, NATURAL RESOURCES, 
LAWS, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, 
j ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT, PROSPECTS OF 

FUTURE GROWTH. 


■& 


Edited and Compiled for the 

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS 

b y 

N. VELOZ GOITICOA, 

Secretary of the Bureau. 


1904 . 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1904 . 














Coat of Arms ofVenezuela adopted by decree of April 20,1836. 
and modified by that ot July 29, 1863. 



Venezuelan flag. 


COAT OF ARMS AND FLAG OF VENEZUELA. 

Inscription on coat of arms taken from Venezuelan great seal. 






















International Bureau of the American Republics, 

w 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 


VENEZUELA, 

GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, NATURAL RESOURCES, 
LAWS, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, 

ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT, PROSPECTS OF 

FUTURE GROWTH. 


Edited and Compiled for the 

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS 


by 

N. VELOZ GOITICOA. 


Secretary of the Bureau. 


’ > 

O 

1 } 


t «> 

> ! 
) ) 


;> '> 


1904 . 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1904 . 






f V 4r'° 15 


The Bureau wishes to express its deep obligation to the many sources which have 
aided in the compilation of the Handbook of Venezuela (1904) by contributions 
of recent information, and especially to the Venezuelan Government, to which it is 
indebted for much of the latest official and statistical data and many illustrations. 

While the utmost care is taken to insure accuracy in the publications of the Inter¬ 
national Bureau of the American Republics, no pecuniary responsibility is assumed 
on account of errors or inaccuracies which may occur therein. 

2 

OTT 15 1904 

D, of D, 


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• • 
• • • 


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• • 





CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Chapter I.—Geographical sketch, area, population, topography, climatology, 
orography, meteorology, hydrography, flora, fauna, ethnogra¬ 
phy, and native races. 7 

II.—Government, constitutional organization, citizenship, rights and 
duties of foreigners, guaranties, laws, civil, criminal, and com¬ 
mercial—Religion. 61 

III. —Territorial divisions—Federal district: Caracas, La Guaira, 

Petare, Island of Margarita. 97 

IV. —States and Federal Territories—Resources, means of communi¬ 

cation—Population—Trade—Capital cities and pri ncipal towns. 115 

V.—Agriculture: Natural wealth and resources, forest and animal 

products—Public land law. 147 

VI.—Stock raising. 193 

VII. —Mining, mineral wealth, deposits, concessions, mining law. 201 

VIII. —Manufacturing ^nd other industries. 257 

mJX.—C ommerce: Statistical data—Laws, customs tariff. 273 

X. —Financial organization—Revenue and expenditure—Publ ic debt— 

Banking—Currency. 405 

XI.—Means of communication—Interior and to foreign countries— 
Steamship lines—Shipping returns—Harbor dues—Railroads— 
Tramways—Postal, telegraph, telephone, and cable service... 455 

XII.—Immigration and colonization, laws and regulations. 491 

XIII. —Instruction, laws on education, regulations, college and school 

systems. 503 

XIV. —Patent, trade-mark, and copyright regulations—Army and Navy— 

Metric system—Weights and measures and values. 511 

XV.—Bibliography, cartography—The press. 543 

Appendix: Declaration of Independence—National constitution—British, 
German, and Italian protocols—Venezuelan Congress’s action on them— 
Hague protocols—Hague Arbitration Tribunal’s award—Public treaties and 

conventions in force. 555 

General index. 606 

Chapter index (at the close of each chapter). 


3 






























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. 

. 




























. 
























-. 












































ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

v Coat of arms and flag of Venezuela. Frontispiece 

y General Cipriano Castro. 7 

/“Moriche” palm tree (Maurilia jiexuosa) ... 26 

* Group of Caribbean Indians. 34 

V Millennial engraved stone (Caicara). 50 

^ Bolivar’s statue in the National Pantheon (Caracas). 66 

/ Cathedral (Caracas). 88 

'/ Bolivar’s statue (Bolivar Square) (Caracas).. 100 

V Entrance to the court of the capitol (Caracas). 116 

/ Ciudad Bolivar—view across the Orinoco River. 124 

Part of bird’s-eye view of Maracaibo (one-fourth of picture). 138 

/ Trunk of rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis (method of extracting sap). 158 

/ Bread-fruit tree. 170 

/ Palace of Miraflores (President’s house). 182 

/ The National Pantheon (Caracas) .. 194 

Imataca iron region. 202 

Z Naricual mines (entrance to the main gallery). 210 

/ Port of Guanta. 228 

/ Bolivar square (Valencia). 244 

■ River Guaire (Encantado Falls). 260 

/ Barquisimeto (view of). 274 

/ Legislative palace (Maracaibo). 286 

Port of Ciudad Bolivar. 302 

Bird’s-eye view of the port of La Guaira. 312 

/ New Marina street (Maracaibo). 340 

/ Encontrados port on Catatumbo River (Zulia State). 360 

/Municipal Theater (Caracas). 380 

/ Central University of Caracas. 414 

/Federal Palace (northwest corner) (Caracas). 430 

/Chiquinquira Hospital (Maracaibo). 448 

/ “La Toma” bridge over the Naricual River (Guanta and Naricual Railway). 462 

/ Railway map of Venezuela. 474 

/ La Guaira and Caracas Railway (freight train). 492 

/ Baralt Theater (Maracaibo). 512 

/Yellow House (northeast corner) (Caracas). 534 

/ Rio San Jos6 (Bermudez State '. 550 


5 







































' 














Handbook of Venezuela. 



GEN. CIPRIANO CASTRO, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA 

(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 







CHAPTER T. 


GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, AREA, POPULATION, TOPOGRAPHY, 
CLIMATOLOGY, OROGRAPHY, METEOROLOGY, HYDROGRAPHY, 
FLORA, FAUNA, ETHNOGRAPHY, NATIVE RACES. 

GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 


Geographical position.—Venezuela was discovered by Columbus on 
his third voyage on August 1, 1498. The first land he sighted was the 
coast comprised between Ara} r a Point and Boca de Dragos. 

The United States of Venezuela occup}^ the extreme northern limit 
of South America and are situated in the torrid zone between 1° 40' 
south latitude and 12° 20' north; and according to the meridian of 
Caracas, between 10° 20' east and 6° 25' west. 

Caracas, the capital of the Republic, is situated 67° 4' 45" west of 
the meridian of Greenwich, and 69° 25' west of that of Paris. Its 
height above the level of the sea is 922 meters. 

Boundaries.—Venezuela is bounded on the north by the Caribbean 
Sea, on the south by the United States of Brazil, on the east by Brit¬ 
ish Guiana and the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by the Republic 
of Colombia. 

Boundary with Brazil.—The boundaries with Brazil tv^ere established 
by a special commission of both nations in 1880. 

Boundary with British Guiana.—The boundaries with British Guiana 
were submitted to an arbitration tribunal, which met in Paris and gave 
its award on October 3, 1899, as follows: 


AWARD SETTLING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN VENEZUELA AND 

BRITISH GUIANA. 

The arbitration treaty for the settlement of the boundary between 
the United States of Venezuela and the Colony of British Guiana 
was duly ratified on June 14, 1897, and the arbitration court, com¬ 
posed of five arbitrators, gave its award in Paris on October 3, 1899. 

The award, after setting out the treaty of arbitration in full, and 

7 


8 


VENEZUELA. 


after reciting the preliminary proceedings, determines the boundary 
line between the territory of the United States of Venezuela and that 
of Her Britannic Majesty to be as follows: 

‘ 4 Starting from the coast at Point Playa the line of boundary shall 
run in a straight line to the river Barima at its junction with the 
river Mururuma and thence along and mid stream of the latter river 
to its source and from that point to the junction of the river Haiowa 
with the Amakuru, and thence along the mid stream of the Amakuru 
to its source in the Imataka ridge, and thence in a southwesterly 
direction along the highest ridge of the spur of the Imataka Moun¬ 
tains to the highest point of the main range of such Imataka Moun¬ 
tains opposite to the source of the Barima, and thence along the sum¬ 
mit of the main ridge in a southeasterly direction of the Imataka 
Mountains to the source of the Acarabisi, and thence along the mid 
stream of the Acarabisi to the Cuyuni, and thence along the northern 
bank of the river Cuyuni westward to its junction with the Wenamu, 
and thence following' the mid stream of the Wenamu to its western¬ 
most source, and thence in a direct line to the summit of Mount Ro- 
raima, and from Mount Roraima to the source of the Cotinga, and 
along the mid stream of that river to its junction with the Takutu, 
and thence along the mid stream of the Takutu to its source, thence in 
a straight line to the westernmost point of the Akarai Mountains, and 
thence along the ridge of the Akarai Mountains to the source of the 
Corentm, called the Cutari River: Provided always , That the line of 
delimitation lixed by this award shall be subject and without predju- 
dice to any question now existing or which may arise to be determined 
between the Government of Her Britanic Majesty and the Republic 
of Brazil, or between the latter Republic and the United States of 
Venezuela. 

“In fixing the above delimitation the arbitrators consider and decide 
that in times of peace the rivers Amakuru and Barima shall be open 
to navigation by the merchant ships of all nations subject to all just 
regulations and to the payment of light or other like dues: Provided , 
That the dues charged by the Republic of Venezuela and government 
of the colony of British Guiana in respect of the passage of vessels 
along the portions of such rivers respectively owned by them shall 
be charged as the same rates upon the vessels of Venezuela and 
Great Britain, such rates being no higher than those charged to any 
other nation: Provided , also, That no customs duties shall be charge¬ 
able either by the Republic of Venezuela or by the colony of British 
Guiana in respect of goods carried on board ships, vessels, or boats 
passing along the said rivers; but customs duties shall only be charge¬ 
able in respect of goods landed in the territory of Venezuela or Great 
Britain respectively. 


9 


BOUNDARIES. 

“Executed and published in duplicate by us in Paris, this 8d day of 
October, A. D. 1899.” 

Boundary with Colombia.—The boundaries with Colombia were sub¬ 
mitted to the arbitration of the King of Spain who gave his award on 
March 16, 1891, as follows: 

AWARD ESTABLISHING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN VENEZUELA AND 

COLOMBIA. 

[Award of the King of Spain given in Madrid on March 16, 1891.] 

The award, after referring to the treaty of Caracas of September 
14, 1881, and to the act of Paris of February 15, 1886, and after 
stating the grounds, determines the boundary as follows: 

“Section I. From Los Mogotes, called Los Frailes, starting from 
the one nearest to Juyachi toward the line which separates the Upar 
Valley from the Province of Maracaibo and Rio de la Hacha, along 
the highest ridge of the Oca Mountains to the points where the latter 
end, which points shall be the precise limits on the Upar Valley side, 
and the Juyachi Mogote on that of the mountain range and the seacoast. 

“Sec. II. From the line which separates the Upar Valle} 7 from the 
Province of Maracaibo and Rio de la Ilacha along the highest ridges 
of the Perija and Motilones Mountains to the source of the Oro River 
and thence to the mouth of the Grita River in the Zulia; along the 
line established by the statu quo which crosses the Catatumbo, Sar- 
dinata, and Tarra rivers. 

“ Sec. III. From the mouth of the Grita River in the Zulia, along 
the curve acknowledged now as forming the boundary, to the Don 
Pedro ravine and along the latter to the Tachira River. 

“Sec. IV. From the Don Pedro ravine, in the Tachira, upstream to 
its source and thence along the highest ridge (paramo) of the spur of 
Tama to the course of the Oira River. 

“Sec. V. Along the course of the Oira River to its continence with 
the Sarare, along the waters of the latter crossing through the middle 
part of the Desparramadero lagoon to the point where the latter enters 
the Arauca River, downstream to a point equidistant to the town of 
Arauca and to that on which the meridian of the continence of the 
Masparro and Apure also.intersects the Arauca River; from this point 
in a straight line to the Meta Apostadero and along the waters of this 
river to its mouth in the Orinoco River. 

“Sec. VI. Portion 1. From the mouth of the Meta River in the 
Orinoco along the latter’s mid stream to the Maipures Rapids.- But, 
taking into account that the Atures village, from the time of its forma¬ 
tion, makes use of a road on the left bank of the Orinoco to avoid the 
rapids from opposite said village of Atures to the landing place which 


10 


VENEZUELA. 


lies to the south of the Maipures, opposite Macuriana hill toward the 
north of the mouth of the Vichada, the right of way is hereby expressly 
recognized in favor of the United States of Venezuela, with the under¬ 
standing that said right shall cease twenty-five years after the award 
has been published or when a road be constructed through Venezuelan 
territory, which renders unnecessary the passage through Colombia, 
the contracting parties reserving meanwhile the privilege of regulating 
in common the exercise of this right of way. 

44 Portion 2, From the Maipures Rapids along the mid stream of the 
Orinoco to its confluence with the Guaviare, along the course of the 
latter to the confluence of the Atabapo; along the Atabapo upstream 
to thirty-six kilometers to the north of the village of Yavita, drawing 
from there a straight line to the Guainia River thirtv-six kilometers 
to the west of the village of Pimichm and along the bed of the Guainia 
which further on takes the name of Rio Negro to the Cocuy stone. 

44 Given in the Royal Palace of Madrid on March 16, 1891.” 

Coast.—The coast of Venezuela, 3,020 kilometers long, is washed 
by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and contains 32 ports, 
50 small bays, and many anchorages, not including the harbors exist¬ 
ing in the lakes of Maracaibo and Tacarigua and the estuaries of great 
rivers. 


Islands.—The Republic possesses 71 islands, besides a great number 
of rocks and islets lying in several places near the coast. The total 
are'a of these islands is 37,898 square kilometers, and they are divided 
among the following States and Territories: 

Sq. kilometers. 


State of Miranda and Colon Territory (14). 1,619 

State of Caraboloo (4). 31 

State of Bermudez (25)... 527 

State of Falcon (16). 441 

Delta Territory (12). 35,180 


Total. 37,898 

Island of Margarita.—The largest of these islands is Margarita, 
which forms part of the Federal district, according to the constitu¬ 
tion of April 27, 1904. 

Rivers.—Within the territory of Venezuela rise 1,059 rivers. Sev¬ 
enty are navigable, such as the Orinoco, Apure, Portugueza, Uribante, 
Guanare, Sarare, Masparro, Masparrito, Santo Domingo, Cojedes, and 
many others. 

The Orinoco, which is the largest of these rivers and one of the 
three great streams of the Western Hemisphere, has a length of 2,373 
kilometers and receives 436 tributaries. It derives its source from 
the Parima Ridge, at a height of 1,500 meters above sea level, and 
flows into the Atlantic Ocean. 









GEOGRAPHICAL DATA. 


11 


Gulfs.—There arc live gulfs on the coast of Venezuela. The Gulf 
of Maracaibo, which is the principal, is formed by the peninsulas of 
Goagira and Paraguana and the coast of Coro and Maracaibo, and has 
an area of 510 square leagues. The second in size is called the Gulf 
of Paria, or "‘Golfo Triste,” and is formed by the peninsula of Paria 
and the eastern coasts of Cumana and by the lower estuaries of the 
Orinoco. It covers an area of 300 square leagues. The third is 
the small open gulf of Coro, measuring 60 square leagues. The 
fourth is that of Cariaco, in the State of Bermudez, and measures 
22 square leagues. The fifth is that of Santa Fe, with an area of onl} 7 
2 square leagues. 

Lakes.—As a complement of the rich hydrographical system of the 
country, Venezuela possesses 201 small lakes, some of which are 
important, namely, that of “El Zulia,”with an area of 750 kilometers, 
the “ Laguneta," in the State of Zulia, with 500 kilometers, that of 
Tacarigua, 85 kilometers in circumference, and the “Estero de Cama- 
guan,” in the Guarico section, with an area of 210 kilometers. 

Principal lakes.—The most important lakes of Venezuela are the 
Lake of Maracaibo with an area of 17,500 square kilometers, and that 
of Valencia with 559. Fish and game are abundant in all of them. 

Important geographical data.—The following are important geo¬ 
graphical data of Venezuela (area in kilometers, 1,552,711): 


Total length of the coasts.kilometers.. 

Number of gulfs. 

Number of straits. 

Number of capes. 

Number of peninsulas. 

Number of ports. 

Number of small bays. 

Number of islands. 

Number of mountains and ridges. 

Number of plateaus. 

Number of hydrographical basins. 

Number of first-class rivers. 

Number of second-class rivers. 

Number of third-class rivers. 

Number of fourth-class rivers. 

Number of branches of the Orinoco. 

Number of large lakes. 

Number of small lakes. 


3, 020 
5 
7 
7 

7 

32 
50 
71 
40 
42 

8 
7 

33 
19 

1,000 

36 

2 

204 


AREA. 

Total area.—The territory of Venezuela measures 1,552,711 square 
kilometers, according to the Venezuelan Yearbook (1896), but this 
total area is differently estimated at 1,515,763 square kilometers and 
1,538,288 square kilometers. As an illustration, this area represents 




















12 


VENEZUELA. 


about four times the total territory of Central America, or, in the 
United States, more than the combined areas of the eight great States 
of Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 
Oklahoma, and Arkansas. 

The territory of Venezuela measures 1,242 kilometers from north 
to south, and 1,672 kilometers from east to west. 

Perimetric extension.—The perimetric extension of territory is about 
10,000 linear kilometers. 

Area of zones.—This area is divided into three zones, as follows: . 

Sq. kilometers. 

Agricultural... 349, 481 

Pastoral.•. 405, 620 

Forest. 797,640 

. Total. 1,552,741 

Area of hydrographical basins.—This area is divided into eight main 
hydrographical basins, as follows: 

Sq. kilometers. 


Orinoco River. 949,430 

Negro River. 100, 359 

Cuyuni River. 158,109 

Gulf of Cariaco. 7,052 

Gulf of Paria. 30, 811 

Watersheds of the Coast. 124, 981 

Watersheds of the Valencia Lake. 4, 615 

Watersheds of the Maracaibo Lake. 177, 384 


Total. 1,552,741 


POPULATION. 


Population in 1810.—According to Humboldt, in this year the pop¬ 
ulation of Venezuela was 802,100 inhabitants, distributed as follows: 


Departments: 
Orinoco .. 
Venezuela 

A pure__ 

Zulia. 


Inhabitants. 
.. 160,000 
.. 350,000 
.. 130,000 
.. 162,100 


Total. 802,100 

Population from 1810-1857.—The following table gives the popula¬ 
tion of Venezuela according to censuses: 























POPULATION 


13 


Population according to censuses (1810 to 1857). 


Province. 

1810 (census 
of Hum¬ 
boldt). 

1825 (offi¬ 
cial cen¬ 
sus), a 

1825 (census 
of Codazzi). 

1838 (esti¬ 
mate of 
Cajigal). 

1838 (offi¬ 
cial cen¬ 
sus). 

1839 (census 
of Codazzi). 

CumanA. 

70,000 
SO, 000 
45,000 
15,000 

} 350,000 

J 130,000 

48,700 
30,000 
33,400 
50,000 

35,174 
16,310 
36,147 
14,690 
/ 166,966 

1 159,874 

( 87,179 

\ 22,333 

25,044 
21,678 
32,551 
41,687 

35,174 
56,310 
36,147 
14,690 
166,966 
74,317 
87,179 
24,333 
30,044 
21,678 
32,551 
41,687 
85,557 

56,300 
26,110 
57,860 
23,520 
267,200 
247, 900 
139,500 
35, 750 
40,090 
34,690 
52,110 
66,730 

50,671 
15,426 

52.103 
18,305 

237,118 
96,977 
109,497 

13.104 
33,832 
40,476 
44, 788 
62,116 

112,755 

50,671 
56,471 
52,103 
18,305 
242,888 
96,967 
109,467 
15,479 
42,832 
40,476 
44,788 
62,116 
112, 755 

Guayana. 

Barcelona. 

Margarita. 

Caracas. 

Carabobo . 

Barinas. 

A pure. 

Maracaibo. 

Coro. 

Trujillo. 

Merida. 

Barquisimeto. 

Aragua . 




GuArico. 







Cojedes. 







Yaracui. 







Portuguesa. 







TAchira. 







Maturin. 














Total. 

802,100 

659,633 

701,633 

1,147,760 j 887,168 

945,348 


Province. 

1844 (official 
census). 

1846 (official 
census). 

1847 (official 
census). 

1854 (official 
census). 

1857 (official 
census). 

CumanA. 

Guayana . 

Barcelona. 

Margarita. 

Caracas. 

Carabobo. 

Barinas. 

Apure. 

Maracaibo. 

Coro. 

Trujillo. 

MArida. 

Barquisimeto. 

A ragiin. 

74,430 
13,588 
65,453 
20,109 
318,385 
141,440 
127,150 
23,650 
43,445 
71,491 
58,490 
84,198 
176,889 

75,792 
13,588 
75,591 
20,902 
339;074 
141,620 
130,010 
30,425 
47,319 
74,972 
59, 724 
84,562 
179,576 

75,828 
13,588 
73,557 
20,906 
339,074 
141,550 
126,925 
32,485 
47,319 
72,321 
59,724 
84,843 
179,572 

75,828 
13,588 
78,634 
20,906 
173,042 
230, .509 
56,242 

32.485 
89,718 
72,321 
60,937 
84,843 

313,881 

81.485 
109,331 

52,020 
91,120 
125,293 
20,109 
173,042 
112,000 
152,000 
32, 485 
92,000 
72,321 
60,937 
67,323 
152,000 
81,485 
109,331 
92,000 
118,591 
112,000 
40,000 
32,102 

GiiArie.o. 




rimed es. 




Yemeni . 





Portnenesa. 




70,683 

TAe.hira . 




Maturin 





Total. 





1,218,716 

1,273,155 

* 

1,267,692 

1,564,433 

1,888,159 


From the year 1857 to 1873 no general census was taken. 

Population in 1873 .—The first general official census was taken in 
this year and gave a population of 1,784,194 inhabitants. 

Population in 1881 .—The second general official census was taken in 
this year, giving the population as 2,075,245, of which 1,005,518 were 


a The census of 1825 was taken as a basis for the division of the public debt of Colombia. This 
division was carried out according to the convention of December 23, 1834, in the following 
proportions: 


State. 

Inhabit¬ 

ants. 

Propor¬ 

tional 

cuota. 

Cuota as¬ 
signed. 

Difference 
(+ in favor, 
— against). 

New (9 ran ad a._. 

1,228,259 
659,633 
491,996 

51.60 
27.72 
20.68 

Per cent. 

50 

28 i 
21* 

Per cent. 
+1.60 

- .78 

- .82 

Venezuela, .... 

Penador . 

Tn<wl . 

2,379,888 

100 

1,00 












































































































14 


VENEZUELA. 


males and 1,069,724 females. This showed an increase over the census 
of 1873 of 291,051. 

Foreign residents in 1881.—The number of foreign residents in 1881 
was 34,916, of whom 11,544 were Spaniards, 4,041 British, 3,227 
Italians, 3,206 Dutch, 2,186 French, 1,171 German, 204 Danish, 8,729 
Colombians, 78 from other South American Republics, 179 from North 
America, and 341 from other countries. 

Population in 1886.—According to the Statistical Yearbook of 
Venezuela (1887) the population on January 1, 1886, was 2,198,320 
inhabitants, of which 1,064,572 were males and 1,133,748 females. 

Population in 1891.—The third general census, taken in this year, 
gave the population as 2,323,527, of which 1,137,139 were males and 
1,186,388 females. The number of foreign residents was 42,898. 

Population in 1894.—The Venezuelan Yearbook for 1896 gives a 
population for this year of 2,444,816, of which 1,197,069 were males 
and 1,247,747 females. 

Foreign residents in 1894.—The number of foreign residents was 
44,129, of which 13,179 were Spaniards, 11,081 Colombians, 6,154 Brit¬ 
ish, 3,729 Dutch, 3,179 Italians, 2,545 French, 962 Germans, 518 South 
Americans, 232 North Americans, and 2,089 of other nationalities. 

Demographic returns for 1895-1898. a 


Year. 

Births. 

Marriages. 

Deaths. 

Increase. 

1894 95 

68,980 
61,804 
72,303 
63,415 

5,809 
' 4,910 
4, 625 
3,940 

48,255 
45,212 
49, 519 
48,661 

20, 725 
16,592 
22,784 
14,754 

1895-96. 

1896-97. 

1897-98. 



a Data supplied by Ministerio de Fomento, 1903. 


Population from 1810 to 1904. 


Year. 

Data. 

• 

1810. 

According to Humboldt. 

1825. 

Official figures. 

1838. 

Figures taken from former years. 

1839. 

According to Codazzi. 

1844. 

Official figures. 

1847. 

.do... 

1854. 

.do. 

1873. 

First general census of the Republic. 

1881. 

Second general census of the Republic. 

1886. 

Figures from the Venezuelan bureau of statistics. 

1887. 

.do. 

1888. 

.do. 

1889. 

.do. 

1890. 

.do. 

1891. 

Third general census of the Republic. 

1892. 

Figures from the Venezuelan bureau of statistics. 

1893. 

... r.do. 

1894. 

.do. \... 

1895. 

.do. 

1896. 

.do. 

1897. 

.do. 

1898. 

.do. 

1899. 

Estimated population exclusive of immigrants. 

1900. 

.do. 

1901. 

.do. 

1902. 

.do. 

1903.. 

.do... 

1904. 

.do. 


Population. 


802,100 
659,633 
887,168 
945,348 
1,218,716 
1,267,692 
1,564,433 
1,784,194 
2,075,245 
2,198,303 
2,207,962 
2,238,922 
2,269,020 
2,290,958 
2,323,527 
2,350,347 
2,379, 701 
2,444,816 
2,465,541 
2,482,133 
2,504,917 

2.519.671 

2.538.671 

2.557.671 

2.576.671 
2,595,071 

2.614.671 

2.633.671 

















































































POPULATION. 


15 


Indian Population.—The Indian population in 1839 and 1890 is given 
in the following table: 


♦ 


1839 

1890 


Year. 


Inde¬ 

pendent. 

Submit¬ 

ted. 

Civilized. 

Total. 

52,415 
66,000 

14,000 
20,000 

155,000 
240,000 

221,415 
326,000 


Population, area, and density in 1903.—In the following table the 
population and area of Venezuela are compared with those of certain 
countries in Europe: 


Country. 


Venezuela 

Germany_ 

France . 

Italy. 

Netherlands. 

Belgium. 

Switzerland. 
Ireland. 

Total.. 


Area. 

Population. 

Inhabit¬ 
ants per 
square 
kilo¬ 
meter. 

Sq. kilometers. 

1,552,741 

2,033,071 

1.09 

540,700 

56,367,178 

104 

536,400 

38,961,945 
32,475,253 

74 

286, 600 

113 

33,100 

5,263,269 

159 

29, 450 

6, 799, 999 

231 

41,340 

3,315, 443 

80 

85,150 

4,456,546 

53 

1,552,740 

147,639,631 

95.14 


The above table shows that the area of Venezuela aggregates that 
of the seven European countries therein considered, although its 
population is fifty-five times less than their total population. This 
shows that Venezuela’s territory can easily contain one hundred and 
fifty million (150,000,000) inhabitants, which would give but 96.60 
inhabitants to the square kilometer. 

Venezuela’s area, compared with that of Belgium, is fifty-two times 
larger than the latter’s, and to have the latter’s density of population 
it would have to be peopled b} r 358 million inhabitants. 

Population and area of American republics.—The following table 
compares the population, area, and density of population of Vene¬ 
zuela with those of some of the American Republics in 1903: 


Country. 

Area. 

Population. 

Inhabit¬ 
ants per 
square kilo¬ 
meter. 

Brazil. 

Sq. kilometers. 
8,305,000 
7,836,000 
2,950,000 
1,979,000 
1,822,000 
1,553,000 

16,330,000 
80,372,000 
6,027,000 
13,605,000 
1,816,000 

1.94 

TTffit.pd Stales .__. 

10.25 

Argentina. 

1.70 

Mexico . 

6.87 

Bolivia. 

.99 

Venezuela . 

2,033,000 

4,000,000 
2,971,000 
3,500,000 

1.09 

Cnlnmhin. 

1,203, 000 
1,137,000 
659,000 

3.26 


2.61 

f!hilp . 

5.03 




The above table shows that Venezuela in area holds the sixth place 
among the American Republics, in population the eighth, and in den¬ 
sity of population the eighth. 

























































16 


VENEZUELA.. 


TOPOGRAPHY. 

Venezuela abounds in natural resources. The fluvial system pene¬ 
trates the most remote points of her territories. The vast 'plains, 
covered with verdure the entire year, furnish bountiful subsistence to 
the herds of cattle. The mountain ranges are covered with forests, 
from which are obtained rare and precious woods, while the valleys 
and table-lands are rich in varieties of cereals and fruits which grow in 
abundance. The mines, containing valuable minerals, are, for the 
most part, undeveloped and open for investments. 

CLIMATOLOGY. 

The climate of Venezuela is peculiarily adapted to all classes of 
cultivation, the extremes of heat and cold prevalent in the northern 
climate being practically unknown. 

The territory is divided into three zones, varying in temperature 
according to the height above the level of the sea, and classified as 
cold, temperate, and hot lands. In the regions within the latitude of 
8° and 9° the snow-covered lands are found, disappearing at a height 
of 4,136 meters above the sea level, although in the hot season snow 
melts at a height of 4,526 above the sea level, which is within the line 
of “perpetual snows.” 

Cold lands.—The highest peaks in the chain of mountains of Merida 
are 4,580 meters. At a height of 4,526 meters, where the thermometer 
registers 2° or 3° above zero, all vegetation ceases and nothing is to 
be seen but snow-covered moss and weeds. 

Temperate lands.—The temperate lands arc located between 585 and 
- 2,144 meters above the level of the sea, where the temperature varies 
from 18° to 25° centigrade. This belt of mild climate marks the home 
of the prosperity of the country, the cultivation of the greater part of 
plants useful to man thriving here, where the temperature is more 
favorably adapted to the growing of staple products than in the other 
zones. 

Hot lands.—The hot lands begin at the level of the sea and extend to 
585 meters altitude. The thermometer in this region varies from 25° 
50' to 32° 67' centigrade. 

The healthy condition of Venezuela’s climate is attested by the 
low average of death rate, and the number of persons who attain the 
age of a hundred years and more. 

Seasons.—Properly speaking, there are only two seasons in Vene¬ 
zuela—the dry and the rainy, or summer and winter. The former 
commences when the sun enters the Tropic of Capricorn and the latter 
when it comes into the Tropic of Cancer. The rainy season is there¬ 
fore from April to October, during which period the temperature 
rises most, while the remainder of the year the air is fresh and the 
climate generally mild and agreeable. 


OROGRAPHY 


17 


Prevailing winds. —The prevailing winds of the torrid zone blow 
over Venezuela and vary between the south and east in the winter. In 
the dry season, or summer, the prevailing winds are from the northeast 
and the}^ also blow freshly from the north and northwest, with greater 
frequency in November and December than in February and March. 
The showers that occur during these months are not as heavy as those 
that fall in winter, which are known by the name of nortes (northers). 

Temperature of cities.— The temperature of the principal cities and 
towns of Venezuela is given in the following table: 


City or town. 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

Mean. 

Federal District: 

Caracas. 

° C. 
29 

F. 

84.2 

° c. 

9 

F. 

48.2 

° C. 

19 

F. 

66.2 

Macuto. 

32.50 

90 

26 

78.8 

29.25 

85 

Antimano. 

28 

83.2 

8. 75 

47 

18.37 

65 

La Guaxra. 

32.50 

90 

26 

78.8 

29 

84.2 

Los Teques. 

26 

78.8 

8.50 

47 

17.25 

63 

Petare. 

29 

84.2 

17 

62.6 

23 

73.4 

Asuncion (Margarita Island). 

30 

86 

23 

73.4 

26.50 

79 

State of Aragua: 

La Victoria. 

31.50 

88 

20 

68 

25.75 

77 

Ciudad de Cura. 

30.50 

87 

22.50 

72 

26.50 

79 

State of Bermudez: 

Cumand. 

31.50 

88. 1 

23.50 

74 

27.50 

81.1 

Barcelona. 

31.40 

88 

23.50 

74 

27.45 

81 

Maturin. 

30. 50 

87 

24. 50 

76 

27.50 

78.1 

State of Bolivar: 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

33 

91.4 

24 

75.2 

28.50 

83 

San Fernando. 

32 

89.6 

29 

84.2 

30.50 

87 

State of Carabobo: 

Valencia. 

30.50 

87 

19 

66.2 

24.75 

76 

Montalb&n. 

26 

78.8 

18.50 

65 

22.25 

72 

Be junta. 

25.50 

78 

18.50 

65 

22 

71 fi 

Nirgua. 

25 

77 

18 

64.4 

21.50 

70 

State of FalcOn: 

Coro. 

32. 50 

90 

23. 50 

74 

28 

82.4 

Cumarebo. 

29.50 

85 

23 

73.4 

26.25 

79 

State of Gu^rico: 

Calahnzn . .... 


29.25 

79 

State of Lara: 

Barq uisimeto. 

29 

84.2 

22 

71.6 

25.50 

78 

San Felipe. 

30 

86 

24 

75.2 

27 

80.6 

Tocuyo... 

28. 50 

83 

23 

73.4 

25.75 

78.4 

Quibor. 

29.50 

85 

24 

75.2 

26.75 

79 

Yaritagua... 

30 

86 

24 

75.2 

27 

80.6 

State of MOrida: 

MOrida. 

23.53 

74 

8.75 

47 

16.14 

61 

Mucuchies. 

20 

68 

6.75 

43 

13.37 

56 

State of Miranda: 

Oenmare ... 




29.25 

79 

State of T&chira: 

San Cristobal... 

25 

77 

17 

62.6 

21 

69.8 

Lohatora, . .. 

22 

71.6 

15 

59 

18.50 

65 

Ejido . 

20.89 

69 

8.25 

45 

14.57 

58 

Rh ila dorps. 

21 

69.8 

10 

50 

15.50 

60 

State of Trujillo: 

Trniillo .-. 

26 

78.8 

18.50 

65 

22.25 

72 ' 

Rof*on6. 

21.50 

70 

15 

59 

18.25 

64.8 

State of Zamora: 

San Carlos. . .... 

32. 50 

90 

24 

75.2 

28.25 

82.6 

friianarp .. 

32.50 

90 

25 

77 

28. 75 

83 

Rarinas .... 

31.50 

88 

24 

75. 2 

27.75 

81 

OsDino... 

31 

87.8 

24.50 

76 

27.75 

81 

A ran re . ________ 

31 

87.8 

24.50 

76 

27.75 

81 

State of Zulia: 

ATaraca.iho....... 

32 

89.6 

23 

73.4 

27. 50 

81 

Perij6. .... 

31 

87.8 

44.25 

76 

27.62 

81.1 









OROGRAPHY. 

There are three principal chains of mountains in Venezuela. 

First mountain range. —The first is a ramification of the Andes, 
which divides at Pamplona, one branch running in a northerly direction 


4a-=Q4-2 




























































18 


VENEZUELA. 


to Ocana and gradually sloping toward the Perija ridge and Oca range in 
the Goagira peninsula. The other branch, which is the principal one, 
runs in an east, northeasterly direction. This is the alpine region of 
the Republic and forms a compact and broad mass with different peaks 
perpetually covered with snow. The base of this chain of mountains 
is thickly covered with virgin mountains where the “theobroma” tree 
(food of the Gods), which produces the cacao, grows spontaneously. 
From the foot of the range toward the north the land slopes gradually to 
the Lake of Maracaibo; toward the south it descends to the banks of the 
Apure River. All this mass rises in an amphitheater forming rich 
table-lands, plateaus, and plains. The valleys are the only inhabited 
and cultivated parts of it. 

Second mountain range.—The second system, the coast range of 
Venezuela, intersects the Andes near Barquisimeto and runs in parallel 
ridges to the coast of the Caribbean Sea, from east to west. 

Llanos.—The southern ridge of this range forms the boundary of 
the pasture lands called “llanos,” which extend to the Apure and 
Orinoco rivers. On the west and north the Orinoco is surrounded by 
the llanos, which extensive plains slope gradually from 2,400 meters 
altitude to the river. They are composed of detritus, gravels, 
sands, clay, and ferruginous breccias, resulting from the denudation 
of the neighboring mountain chains and probably overlying Tertiary 
marine strata. The monotonous plains are cut by the rivers into table 
lands called mesas, remarkable for their dryness in comparison with the 
humid ground of the actual valleys. In the west, especially near the 
Cordillera, the plain produces extensive primeval forests or selvas, 
while in the State of Bermudez, between Maturin and Ciudad Bolivar, 
there is a typical desert, with drifts of sand and barren hills. The 
palma moriche (Maritia flexuosa) borders the rivulets on the mesas in 
double rows, while groups of trees appear wherever subterranean 
water exists. The scenery of the llanos therefore frequently resem¬ 
bles that of an American park. The principal river is the Apure; but 
the hydrographic axis is formed by the Cojedes and Portuguesa with 
the lower Apure into which the}" flow. Most of the rivers of the 
llanos converge to This line, which leads backward to the division 
between the Cordillera and the Caribbean Mountains. The Unare River 
is the only one the valley of which penetrates deeply into the llanos 
from the sea, while in the east all the rivers flow eastward to the Orinoco 
Delta and the Gulf of Paria. The llaneros, or people of the plain, 
live chiefly by cattle breeding. The principal river ports, San Fer¬ 
nando de Apure and Nutrias, export live stock and produce derived 
from this industry. The northern ridge forms the seacoast descending 
from Cape Cordera to Cumana, rising again in the Araya and Paria 
peninsulas and ending at the Boca de Dragos. These two ridges form 


METEOROLOGY. 


19 


the fertile Tuy and Aragua valleys and beautiful Valencia Lake. This 
is the most cultivated part of Venezuela. The highest peaks of this 
range do not reach the snow limit. A third chain of the second s}^s- 
tem is submarine and parallel to the coast. It commences at the Island 
of Margarita, appears again at Tortuga Island and at Coro, and ends 
at the Lake of Maracaibo. 

Third mountain range.—The third system consists of the Parima 
range of mountains and differs from the two first in its situation and 
geologic formation. The vast region of Venezuelan Guiana which 
it occupies may be considered a convex tableland, of an elongated 
shape from east to west, in which rise at intervals large mountains 
separated from each other by plains which are crossed by the prin¬ 
cipal rivers of the eight great watersheds of Venezuela. 

Height of principal peaks.—The following table gives the height of the 
principal peaks in the three chains of mountains of Venezuela: 


Peak.rt 


Height. 


Peak, a 


Height. 


ANDEAN RANGE. 

The Sierra Nevada of Merida 

El Salado. 

Mucuchies. 

Santo Domingo Peak. 

Conejas. 

Pan de Azucar. 

Alto del Fraile. 

Culata. 

Pueblo de Mucuchies. 

Granate. 

Volcfin. 

Culata Veguilla. 

Boeomboco. 

Tapias. 

Aricagua. 

Migarfi,. 

Tuno. 

La Sal. 

Don Pedro. 

Molino. 

Cuchilla. 

Balalldn. 

Tama. 

Agripa. 

Caldera . 


Meters. 
4,580 
4,230 
4,320 
4,146 
4,180 
4,138 
4,096 
4,012 
4,012 ’ 
3,941 
3,511 
3,427 
3,419 
3,414 
3,385 j 
3,367 
3,344 I 
3,336 | 
3,260 
3,168 
3,029 
3,210 
3,200 
3,051 
3,799 


andean range— continued. 

Linares. 

Tetas y Atajo. 

Niquitao. 

Cabimbu. 

Mendoza. 


coast range. 


Naiguata.. 

Silla. 

Cares. 

Calculo. 

Ceuta Peak. 

Peoni. 

Tres Picaehos de Bergantin 

INLAND RANGE. 

Platilla. 

Guraima. 

Pao Z&rate. 

Roncador. 

Penonde Maraguapa. 

Cumuvano. 

Quin ata. 

Zamuro. 


Meters. 

3,763 
3,762 
3,695 
3,578 
3,093 


2,800 
2,628 
2,466 
2,665 
2,120 
2,048 
1,505 


1,886 

1,670 

1,597 

1,463 

2,500 

1,882 

2,257 

2,240 


a Venezuelan Yearbook, pp. 24-26. 


METEOROLOGY. 

Rainfall (Cajigal Observatory).—The table below gives the rainfall 
from 1891 to 1902, and although it can not impart a complete knowl¬ 
edge of its periodicity it will at least prove that it is not decreasing, 
as has been wrongly believed. In fact, the quantity of rainfall from 
1901 to 1902 was greater than that from 1891 to 1891. The greatest 
rainfall was recorded in the year 1892-93. 






























































20 


VENEZUELA. 


Comparative table of rainfall at the Cajigal Observatory , 1891-1902. 


Year. 

- 

Quantity of rainfall. 

'-- 

Annual 

totals. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

mm. 

1891. 

18.7 

4 

16.1 

48.6 

154.2 

45.3 

165 

69.3 

96.6 

112.1 

82.3 

42.8 

755 

1892. 

33.2 

33 

36.9 

95.9 

185.5 

159.9 

194.3 

122.9 

95.7 

138 

88.6 

19 

1,202.9 

1893. 

4 

8.6 

.7 

29.3 

136.7 

71.2 

213.2 

43 

146 

151.8 

79.4 

92.3 

976.2 

1894. 

23.6 

15.5 

5.1 

0 

42.3 

30.6 

60.9 

127.8 

99.3 

64.8 

78.9 

53. 2 

602 

1895. 

06.9 

3.6 

13.7 

17.7 

45 

136.8 

56 

65.4 

93.9 

117.3 

134 

40.1 

784.4 

1896. 

13.2 

.2 

4.8 

115.3 

110 

118.4 

36.6 

69.8 

33.2 

64.5 

128 

54.2 

748.2 

1897. 

40.7 

3.8 

0 

5. I 

79 

99.1 

126.1 

92.4 

38.6 

139.2 

80.3 

78. 2 

782.8 

1898. 

15.9 

0 

68.3 

17.7 

23.9 

78.8 

107.2 

150.9 

103.3 

79.4 

105.2 

12.3 

762. 9 

1899. 

15.5 

4.4 

2.1 

0 

0 

116 

63.5 

88.5 

101.3 

113.9 

58.8 

47.7 

611.7 

1900. 

22.2 

4.7 

49.6 

19.7 

14.4 

88.3 

185.2 

140.5 

88.1 

141.3 

109.5 

0 

863.5 

1901. 

16.4 

.4 

1.1 

.9 

38.6 

76.9 

186.9 

118.2 

75.4 

141.4 

129.1 

38 

823.3 

1902. 

61.6 

0 

0 

15.3 

84.4 

124.9 

94.7 

75.4 

178 

52.5 

27 

68.3 

782.1 


The quantity of rainfall per minute during storms and the velocity 
attained by the wind are given in the following table: 


Month. 

Day. 

Year. 

Hour. 

Duration. 

Quantity of 
rainfall per 
minute. 

June..... 

17 

27 

1895 

p. m. 

6 

h. m. 
10 

vim. 

0.83 

Mav... 

1897 

2 

30 

.82 

July. 

20 

1897 

2.30 

2 00 

.50 

September. . 

29 

1899 

11.30 

1 10 

.52 

July. 

7 

1900 

8 

2 50 

. 42 

September. 

10 

1900 

3 

1 00 

.54 




Caracas, August , 1903. 


L. Ugeto, 

Director of the Cajigal Observatoi‘y . 


HYDRO GR APHY. 

Maritime hydrography.—On the coasts of Venezuela the reigning 
wind conies from the east, but with variations of a daily and annual 
period. The daily period is caused by the wind blowing from the sea 
onto the land and from the coasts toward the sea. The sea breeze 
begins at about 10 a. m., lasts until about midday, and diminishes after¬ 
wards. Therefore, when the sun is at the zenith the wind attains its 
greatest force and when it reaches the horizon it has nearly ceased. 
The land wind, called “terral,” begins about midnight and blows until 
sunrise. 

The annual period is produced by the proximity or distance of the 
sun, which causes the two only seasons which are known in the Tropics. 
In this first case winds are not very strong and in the second they are 
fresh and agreeable and blow generally from the northeast. 

On the coast of Guiana there are never any land winds and there 
exists but two currents. One is the general current and the other is 
caused by the tide. On the main coast from the island of Trinidad to 
Cape La Vela the current follows the neighboring islands with an 
inclination toward the south and with a velocity of about 2 kilo- 
meters per hour. From Cape La Vela the main current flows to the 
west-northwest and as it spreads diminishes in velocity. 
































































HYDROGRAPHY. 


21 


Temperature of the sea.—-The following table gives the average tem¬ 
perature of the sea taken on the surface of deep water not far from 


the coast, according to Codazzi 


° c. 


Gulf of Paria. 26. 3 

Gulf of Cariaco. 26. 6 

Coast of Barcelona and Cumana. 25. 6 

Coast of Caracas and Carabobo.25.5 

Coast of Coro and Maracaibo.•. 24. 7 


Note.— The observations have been made at several points of the coast at different 
hours in different epochs. This table is based on more than 100 observations. 

When the thermometer is placed in water 50 centimeters to 1 meter deep, a rise of 
4° to 5° takes place. 


Continental hydrography.—The soil of Venezuela is watered by 1,059 
rivers and brooks, and of these 4:36 are Orinoco affluents; 230 dis¬ 
charge into the Caribbean Sea, 121 into the Gulf of Paria, 200 into 
the Lake of Maracaibo, and 22 into the Lake of Valencia. The prin¬ 
cipal navigable rivers are the Orinoco, Apure, Meta, Caura, Negro, 
and Guarico. 


Table of the hydrograph ical regions of Venezuela, according to Codazzi. 


Hydrographic 

regions. 

Extention in square leagues/* 

Number of rivers per region and class. 

Group of 
Parima. 

Moun¬ 
tain 
ranges 
of Vene¬ 
zuela. 

Moun¬ 

tain 

ranges of 
New 

Granada. 

Total 

per 

region. 

First 

class. 

Second 

class. 

Third 

class. 

Foujtli 

class. 

Fifth 

class. 

Orinoco. 

13,400 

7,800 

9,300 

31,200 

5 

26 

11 

394 

436 

Cuyuni.. 

3,099 



3,099 

1 

1 

1 

88 

91 

Rio Negro. 

2, 350 


2,000 

4,350 

1 

2 

1 

32 

36 

Maracaibo. 


4,150 

400 

■l' 550 


2 

3 

115 

120 

Valencia. 


' 108 


108 




22 

22 

Cariaco _ 


165 


105 




34 

34 

Paria. 


004 


004 


1 

1 

88 

90 

Sea. drainage_ 


2,024 


2,924 


1 

9 

227 

230 









Total. 

19, 449 

15,751 

11, 700 

b 47,000 

*7 

l 

33 

19 

1,000 

1,059 


« One square league equals 31 square kilometers. 
b Codazzi fails to account for 77,140 square kilometers. 


Orinoco hydrographical basin.—The Orinoco River has its source in 
the Parima Range, flows nearly due east, covers a course of 2,373 
kilometers in length, and is navigable for 1,930 kilometers from the 
Atlantic Ocean, where it empties its ponderous volume of water 
through 36 channels, 17 of which are mouths forming a huge estuary 
of 20,061 square kilometers. It ranks third in importance in the 
Western Hemisphere, the Amazon and Mississippi being the only two 
larger. Of its T36 affluents, some navigable tributaries run south and 
join the Amazon River, or its affluents, opening thus additional com¬ 
munication with the ocean through that great fluvial artery. 

Delta of the Orinoco.—The delta of the Orinoco is formed by 36 
channels or mouths and is twofold. The western delta consists of 3 
large, 3 lesser, and 16 small channels. The eastern delta consists of 
3 large, 3 lesser, and 8 small channels. 































































VENEZUELA. 


0 0 
w w 


The following’ table gives the statistics, compiled by Codazzi, regard¬ 
ing length, depth, bars, and tides of all the delta channels: 


WESTERN DELTA. 


Name of channel. 

Length. 

Depth. 

Bars. 

Tide. 

Rise. 

Velocity. 

Large: 

Macareo. 

Leagues. 

50 

Feet. 

12 to 14 

6 

Feet. 

6 

Miles. 

3 

Man am n. 

48 

14 to 15 

5 

6 

3 

Periernales .... 

34£ 

10 to 15 

8 

6 

4 

Lesser: 

Tnenpita . 

22 

7 to 8 


5 

3 

flnraiina, . 

21 

9 to 10 


5 

3 

Ma n ami t o . 

16 

9 to 10 


5 

3 

Small: 

Vaere . 


12 to 13 


6 

3 

Moror*ot,o _ . 

5 

9 


6 


tin in a. Mornno 

6 

9 


6 


tluaiara 


9 


6 


finnranoon . . 


9 


6 


OaDuro „ 

16 

7 to 8 


5 


tlayrima. 

5 

8 


5 


OneiiinitB. . - .-.__. 

12 

7 to 8 


5 


Maea.vrit.n . 

8 

8 


4 


Cano-Rieo 

13 

6 


4 


tin a m a l . 

16 

7 to 8 


34 


(Inara . 

17 

7 to 8 


34 


tlna.rit.ien . 

Hi 

7 to 8 


3 


Trps Mn.na.mitos . 

5 

4 


6 


A n posto rit.a.. 

4| 

5 


5 


Rnmhiarior . 

3 

4 


6 








EASTERN 

DELTA. 




Large: 

Loran. 

22 

10 to 12 

8 

3 

3 

Aragno tlrande. 

39 

5 to 10 


3 

3 

M^rinsn.. 

30 

6 to 8 


4 

3 

Lesser: 

tin i eii in a. . 

I 85 

8 


4 

3 

Aragnapiehe.__. 

15 

5 to 10 


34 

3 

T) i n ri p,fl,nori or*o. 

10 i 

10 


34 

3 

Small: 

Yaragnara. 

63 

10 


3 


TTgpne . 

5 

8 


3 


dun umsr . . 

10 ‘ 

8 to 9 


3 



17 

4 


3 


Spfnnanfl. . 

15 

(«) 
w 
( b ) 

Full sea. 



Pan pym a, .. . 

94 



Prn 70 Marinsa.. 

8 to 6 

. 4 

3 

Mariusita. 

13 

. 4 

3 


1 



a Dry in summer. 


b Little water. 


Four rivers of the first class, 25 of the second, and 11 of the third 
belong to the hydrographical basin of the Orinoco. Among those of 
the first class are the Apure, Guaviare, Meta, and Carom. 

Apure River.—This river rises from the snow-covered peak of 
Batallon to the south of La Grita in Colombia, where it is called 
Uribante. It runs parallel to the Meta and receives the waters of 
150 tributaries extending over an area of 128,340 square kilometers. 
The total length of the Apure’s course is 1,187 kilometers, of which 
1,005 are navigable. The Apure Hows into the Orinoco through four 
different channels. 

Guaviare River.—This river has its source on the east of the Andean 
Range near San Juan. Its course measures 663 kilometers and receives 
many affluents, the two principal of which are the Inirida and the 
























































































































RIVERS. 


23 


Atabapo. The total watershed of the Guaviare covers an area of 
37,280 square kilometers. 

Meta River.—This river rises in the Andean region near Chingfara 
and Sumapas. Its watershed is of 111,600 square kilometers and its 
course 902 kilometers in length, 898 kilometers of which are navigable. 

Caroni River.—This r iver has its origin on the Parima Range. Its 
hydrographical basin covers 56,800 square kilometers and comprises 
16 rivers. The total length of the Caroni is 892 kilometers, of which 
782 are navigable. 

Area of the Orinoco hydrographical basin.—This great hydrgraph- 
ical basin covers 919,130 square kilometers, which, as an illustration, 
is about twice the area of Spain. 

Rio Negro hydrographical basin.—This river, originally called Curana 
by the aborigines, which means black, rises in the Andean Range 
and takes the name of Guainfa. On passing into Venezuelan ter¬ 
ritory it has accumulated the waters of a basin 62,000 square kilo¬ 
meters. The waters of this river are black; it runs from west to east 
to Maroa, whence it turns to the south-southwest and receives the 
Casiquiare as affluent and loses the name of Guainia and is called Rio 
Negro. The basin of this river, on the Venezuelan side, is 26,350 
square kilometers in extension. It branches off to the Orinoco before 
reaching San Carlos and then continues its course toward the Amazon 
River, which on receiving it as a confluent, is increased by an aggre¬ 
gate tribute of 36 rivers and 60 rivulets. The total area of the Rio 
Negro hydrographical basin is 100,359 square kilometers. 

Cuyuni hydrographical basin.—The Cuyuni River is the recipient 
of all the waters of this basin which is 158,109 square kilometers in 
extension. This basin is formed by the Cocoi, Rorainia, Riconote, 
Supano, and part of the Pocarainia ranges on the one side and by the 
Yuruary and Inmtaca ranges on the other. The principal tributaries 
of the Cuyuni are the Masaruni, the Yuruari and the Sibauri. The 
Cuyuni flows into the Essequibo, 82 kilometers from its mouth. 

Cariaco hydrographical basin.—The Gulf of Cariaco is formed by 
the peninsula of Araya, the beach of Cuinana, the coast of Mariquital, 
and the marshes of Cariaco. It receives the waters of 31 rivers, the 
largest of which is the Never!, which rises on the Turumiquire Moun¬ 
tain. The total area of this basin is 7,052 square kilometers. 

Paria hydrographical basin.—The southern portion of the range of 
the Parima Peninsula sheds its waters into the Parima Gulf. The 
Guanipa and Guarapiche rivers flow into this gulf, besides 88 smaller 
rivers. The Turumiquire ridge on the north and the slopes of the 
Guanipa table-land form this basin which measures 30,811 square kilo¬ 
meters. 

Coast hydrographical basin.—From the peninsula of Paraguana an 
imaginary line drawn across Coro, the plains of 1 aratarase, and the 
Carora Mountains form the western declivity of the coast. The moun- 


24 


VENEZUELA. 


tains, which separate the Tocuyo Valley from that of Barquisimeto to 
Dnaca and Urachiche toward the Nirgua Mountains, form the eastern 
declivity toward the Caribbean Sea. Two hundred and thirty rivers, 
besides 400 rivulets, discharge into this sea. The three principal 
rivers are the Tocuyo (463 kilometers), the Unare (246 kilometers), 
and the Tuy (265 kilometers long). The total area of this basin is 
124,981 square kilometers. 

Valencia Lake hydrographical basin.—The Aragua valleys are circular 
in form and mountains of different heights surround them. At the 
bottom of this valley a lake 516 meters above the sea level receives all 
its drainage. This is the Lake of Valencia, which measures a perimeter 
of 2,046 square kilometers, with 22 islands, and receives the waters of 
22 rivers. This basin has an area of 4,615 square kilometers. 

Maracaibo hydrographical basin.—The Lake of Maracaibo has a cir¬ 
cumference of 6,634 kilometers and covers 3,379 square kilometers. 
The great valley, the centre of which it occupies, gathers the waters 
from the Ocana and Perija mountains on the west; on the south those 
from Merida and Trujillo; on the east those from Jirihara and Ernpa- 
lado. Three well-defined declivities from the west, south, and east drain 
their waters by means of 120 rivers and 400 rivulets into the lake 
which has three outlets or mouths, viz, two small, those of Paijana 
and Oribono, and a large one, 3 kilometers in breadth, between Zapara 
and the island of San Carlos. The principal tributaries of the lake 
are the Zulia (318 kilometers), the Catatumbo, now called Encontra- 
dos (289 kilometers), the Motatan (255 kilometers), and the Escalante 
(198 kilometers). The gulf receives also on its northern extremity the 
drainage of the Goagira Peninsula and of Coro. The total extension 
of this basin is 177,384 square kilometers. 

Hereunder are given tables of some of the rivers of Venezuela and of 
hydrographic temperatures: 

Table of the rivers of Venezuela (first., second, and third class), according to Codazzi. 


Name of river. 


First class: 

Orinoco .... 

Apure.. 

Guiaviare .. 

Meta.. 

Caroni. 

Cuyuni. 

Guainia .... 
Second class: 

Caura.. 

Arauca. 

Gu&rico. 

Inirida. 

Paragua 
Ventuari ... 
Mazaruni... 

Bocono. 

Portuguesa. 

Tocuyo. 

Vichiada... 
Capanaparo 
Caparro .... 
Siapa. 


Length 

of 

course. 

• 

Naviga¬ 

ble 

length. 

Square 
leagues 
of drain¬ 
ages 

Hydrographic 

region. 

Mountain sys¬ 
tem, whence 
they rise. 

426 

400 

31,000 

Orinoco. 

Parima. 

213 

188 

4,140 


Merida. 

210 

160 

3, 600 


New Granada. 

210 

172 

3,600 



185 

160 

2,800 


Parima. 

180 

129 

3,500 

Cuyuni. 


160 

72 

3,990 

Rio Negro .... 

New Granada. 

175 

120 

1,620 

Orinoco. 

Parima. 

160 

140 

1,300 


New Granada. 

124 

60 

1,200 


Coast. 

123 

115 

650 


New Granada. 

123 

115 

600 


Parima. 

117 

100 

1,300 



110 

60 

600 

Cuyuni. 


102 

52 

300 

Orinoco. 

Merida. 

96 

66 

1,300 



96 

44 

550 

The sea. 


92 

33 

1,000 

Orinoco. 

New Granada. 

90 

50 

300 



90 

44 

200 


Merida. 

90 

51 

300 

Rio Negro .... 

Parima. 


a One square league—81 square kilometers. 
























































RIVERS 


25 


Table of the rivers of Venezuela 


{first, second, and third class), according to Codazzi —Con. 


Name of river. 

Length 

of 

course. 

Naviga¬ 

ble 

length. 

Square 
leagues 
of drain¬ 
age. 

Hydrographic 

region. 

Mountain sys¬ 
tem, whence 
they rise. 

Second class—Continued: 






Guanare. 

82 

50 

?50 

Orinnen 

Af Mruln 

Guanipa. 

76 

24 

225 

Pnrin 

Coft-St 

Yuruari. 

75 

20 

400 

Cuyuni 

Parima. 

Casiquiare. 

72 

72 

1,190 

Rio Negro .... 

Tigre . 

72 

44 

300 

()rinoco 

Coast. 

Orituco. 

71 

30 

300 


Uribante. 

69 

44 

300 


Merida. 

Santo Domingo.. 

67 

29 

200 


Zulia.7. 

66 

44 

400 

Maracaibo.... 

New Granada. 

Sipapo. 

63 

55 

300 

Orinoeo 

Pn.ri m n 

Padamo. 

64 

44 

300 

.do. 

Do. 

Aro. 


48 

400 


Manap re. 

63 

12 

225 


Const 

Suripa. 

62 

34 

150 


Mfh’idn 

Coje'de. 

60 

29 

200 


Const 

Catatumbo (now calledEncontra- 

60 

40 

750 

Maracaibo.... 

New Granada. 

dos). 






Sarare . 

60 

22 

700 

Orinoco 


Cuchivero . 

60 

50 

350 


Parima. 

Cunucunuma. 

60 

42 

300 


Third class: 






Paguay. 

58 

30 

200 

Orinoco 

M 6ri d n 

Puruni.>. 

58 

30 

200 

Cuyuni 

Pnrirpa 

Canagua . 

56 

29 

200 

Orinoeo 

Meridn 

Ocarno. 

56 

28 

125 


Parima. 

Atabapo.. 

55 

29 

800 


Tuy ..*. 

55 

24 

250 

The sea. 

Coast. 

Guarapiche. 

54 

23 

400 

Paria. 


Motatdn. 

53 

26 

250 

Maracaibo.... 


Pacimoni. 

52 

31 

250 

Rio Negro.... 

Parima. 

Masparro. 

52 

29 

125 

Orinoco. 

Merida. 

Morichal Largo. 

52 

42 

125 


Coast. 

Unare. 

51 

26 

400 

The sea. 


Suapure. 

51 

29 

200 

Orinoco. 

Parima. 

Ycavero. 

51 

29 

200 



Aguirre. 

45 

25 

250 



Socuy . 

43 

22 

150 

Maracaibo.... 

Merida. 

Escalante . 

41 

25 

300 



Imataca. 

41 

20 

100 

Orinoco. 

Parima. 

Mavaca. 

81 

25 

350 










Table of hydrographic temperatures of Venezuela according to Codazzi. 


Name of river, lake, or gulf. 


Latitude north. 


Tempera¬ 

ture. 


Lake Maracaibo. 

Lake Valencia. 

Tacarigua Lagoon. 

Sinamaica Lagoon. 

Zulia Lagoon. 

Guasaconica Lagoon. 

Arestinga Lagoon. 

Catatumbo, Zulia, and Escalante rivers 

Tocuyo and Lim6n rivers. 

Tuy and Unare rivers. 

Saint-Jean and Guarapiche rivers. 

Morichal Largo and Tigre rivers. 

Gutirico and Pao rivers. 

Portuguesa and Cojede rivers. 

Gudnare and Bocono rivers. 

Masparo and Santo Domingo rivers. 

Canagud and Suripa rivers. 

Caparro and Uribante rivers. 

Apure and Arauea rivers. 

Meta and Capanaparo rivers. 

Caura and Cuchivero rivers. 

Guaviare and Vichada rivers. 

Inirida and Atabapo rivers. 

Rio Negro and Pacimoni. 

Casiquaire and Siapa rivers. 

Cunucunuma and Padamo rivers. 

Ventuari and Sipapo rivers. 

Paragua and Oris rivers. 

Caron i and Cuyuni rivers. 

Orinoco River. 


O 

/ 

o / 

° C. 

9 

30 to 10 30 

25. 5 to 26.6 



10 

23 to 23.5 



10 20 

26.6 to 27 



11 

26 to 26. 6 



9 

25.5 to 26 



9 

26 to 26.6 



11 

26 to 26.3 

8 

to 

9 

25 to 26 



11 

26 to 26. 6 

9 

to 10 

26.6 to 27. 7 



10 

26. 3 to 27. 7 

9 

to 

9 30 

25. 6 to 27.7 

8 

to 

9 30 

26. 6 to 27. 7 

8 

to 

9 30 

25 to 26 

8 

to 

8 30 

26 to 26.7 

8 

to 

8 30 

26 to 27.7 

7 

to 

7 30 

25 to 26 

S" 

/ 

to 

7 30 

25 to 26 

7 

to 

8 

27 to 27. 7 

6 

to 

7 

26. 6 to 27. 2 

7 

to 

8 

25.8 to 26.6 

4 

to 

5 

25 to 26 

3 

to 

4 

24 to 24.4 

1 

to 

2 

23.8 to 24.4 

3 

to 

4 

23 to 24.4 

3 

to 

4 

23.8 to 24.4 

4 

to 

5 

23.8 to 24.4 

5 

to 

6 

23 to 25 

6 

to 

8 

24 to 28 

4 

to 

8 

27.2 to 29.4 










































































































































VENEZUELA. 


26 


L 


FLORA, a 

Characteristic forms of vegetation.—The general idea of the flora of a 
country comprises the characteristic forms of its vegetation, not only 
from the standpoint of systematic botany, but likewise from that of 
the distribution of species in the vertical and horizontal senses, and 
how they contribute, by their aspect and aggroupment, to determine 
the general aspect of the country. 

As Venezuela lies in the Torrid Zone, with an extensive seacoast, 
great number of large rivers, high mountains, vast plains, and dense 
forests, it possesses one of the richest floras of the world. According 
to Dove’s map, Venezuela is comprised between the two isothermic 
lines of 21°. Vegetation never suffers interruption, and the ever¬ 
green foliage of the forests characterizes their tropical exuberance. 
Venezuela belongs to the region of the Trade winds which produce 
sudden condensations and abundant rain on the coast. The virgin 
forests on the extensive plains of the Orinoco Delta, and all Guayana 
conld not exist without a very long rainy season. In the interior of 
the country there are two well-defined seasons. When the northeast 
wind blows on the coast the plains experience the dry season and 
vegetation appears dead. The southeast winds produce the rainy 
season. Temperature and humidity determine the conditions of the 
soil. 

Flora of the plains.—The principal characteristics of the flora of 
the plains is the preponderance of grasses which cover the soil and 
groups of trees and palm trees which dot the vast plains. Among the 
grasses figure the Mimosa , Aeschynomene , Desmanthus, Zornia , and 
Eriosema. Among the verbenecea are the Cxypura graminea , Hypoxis 
decubens, and Craniolaria anrnea. 

Among the palm trees there are the Copernicia tectorum Mart., the 
GuiUelma piritie Erst., the Mauritia flexuosa L. , the Marara Incus- 
pi data Erst ., and many others. The margins of rivers have richer 
vegetation and samanes {fain, conifer as), ceibos {fam. bombacea ), jabil- 
los. {fam. cuforbiacea), and mijaguas, guanios {Inga), and apamates 
attain gigantic proportions. 

The flora of the plains has no endemic genus. 

Little is known about the granitic region to the south of the Orinoco. 
In many places the rocks are not covered with earth, and vegetation 
is poor. Palm trees such as Leojjoldonia, Piassaba , and Mauritia 
Caranct g'row in this region. 

Flora of the forests.—The flora of the forests of Venezuelan Guiana 
(Guayana) produce an immense variety of vegetation, and flowers are 
plentiful. 


"Data from Humboldt, Spruce, Dove’s map, Grisebach, Klotzsch, Sohomburgk, 
Moritz, Weddell, Doctor Ernst, Baker (Syn. Fib). 




Handbook of Venezuela. 



“MORICHE” PALM TREE (M AURITIA FLEXUOSA). 

(Courtesy of Mr. A. Stockman.) 















FLORA. 


27 


The vegetation of Guayana is very different near the banks of the 
numerous rivers by which it is watered. 

Bamboos and uriticacias of the Cecropia species grow there, as well 
as evergreen shrubs and trees, and the soil is covered with aroideous 
and sdtamineous plants with splendid flowers. The forest slopes to 
the seashore where it mingles with mangroves, such as Bhizophora, 
Avicennia , Laguncularia , and Ficus. These mangroves form a sort 
of d}dce to the impetus of the waves. 

Among the trees of the forest are found some forms of laurel and 
tamarind of evergreen foliage. Some 60 species of palms with pin¬ 
nated leaves are known. 

Flora of Guayana.—There exist in Guayana, according to Schom- 
burgk, 2,450 different species of plants, belonging to 132 families and 
772 generic classes. 

The most plentiful families are the following: 


Classes. 


Species. 


Leguminous ... 

Orchids. 

Rubiacean. 

Ferus . 

Compound. 

Gramineous.... 

Palms. 

Apocineans.... 

Enforbean. 

Melastomacean 

Acantacean_ 

Aroidean. 

Malpighacean . 
Amaranths .... 
Scrophiclarian. 

Pines. 

Cluytian. 

Myrtles. 


66 

198 

G1 

187 

37 

108 

33 

103 

21 

51 

20 

59 

19 

57 

18 

52 

17 

34 

16 

72 

13 

26 

12 

35 

12 

51 

10 

12 

10 

15 

10 

20 

9 

25 

9 

44 


According to Doctor Ernst there must exist 4,000 species of plants 
in the forests of Guayana, of which 600 belong to cellular plants. 

Flora of Maturin.—The flora of Maturin is similar to that of Gua- 
vana, and that of the andine mountains has been described by Weddell 
and Moritz as forming the Gaylussacia buxifolia and the befaria 
glanca , which are the last species of alpine vegetation in the north¬ 
east part of South America. 

There are three regions, according to the height, above the sea level. 

Flora of the hot region.—The hot region (from the sea level to an 
altitude of 400 meters) produces the littoral flora composed of CaJcile 
aequalis , Portulaca pilosa , Portulaca lialimoides , Sesuviam portulaca- 
strum , Salicornia ambigua , Bates maritinin , Obione cristata , Tourne- 
fortia gaaphalodes , Ileliotropium inundatum , Hellotr opium curassavi- 
cum , Tpomoca pres-capras , Phizophora Mangle, Capparis atnygdalina, 
Hippomane , Mamcella , Euphorbia buxifolia, Suriana mas ., Thespesia- 
populnea , Corchorus hirsutus , Coccoloba uvifera , Tephrosia cinerea , 
Languncularia racemosa , Conocarpus eredits, Bontia daphnoides , and 
































28 


VENEZUELA. 


Cocos nucifera. The seeds of nearly all these plants maintain then- 
germinating power for a comparatively long time. 

The cacao tree, the sugar cane, the coco tree, the banana and cassava 
trees arc the principal agricultural products of this hot region. The 
plants which grow wild are extremely numerous. 

Flora of the temperate region.—The temperate region (400 to 2,200 
meters above the sea level) has an average temperature of 17 to 20° C., 
which allows the growth and cultivation of all the plants of the torrid 
and temperate zones. Side by side with the banana, sugar cane, coffee, 
cassava, and cotton trees can be seen corn, any kind of vegetable, 
wheat and barley, and such fruit trees as g-uanabano , guavas , misples, 
zapotes , papayas, oranges, apricots, peaches, quince, and apples. 
Among the flowers there are roses, dahlias, pinks, myosotis, violets, 
gladiolus, jessamine, polyanthes, and many other, as gardenias, abu- 
tilons, magnolias, thirbergias, bougainvillean, and dracaenas. 

Plants from distant regions have been perfectly acclimatized, such 
as Nasturtium officinale , Fragaria vesca , Portulaca oleracea , Senecio 
vulgaris , Sonchus oleraceus , Nanthiuns macarocarpum , Meat ha vividis, 
Plantago major , Chenopodium murale , and Typha augustifolia. 

Flora of the cold region.—The cold region (over 2,200 meters alti¬ 
tude) has a special vegetation composed of gramineos plants and lichens, 
and such as Siphocamphlus microstoma Hook, Cardamine chilensis 
D. C., Tcugetes pusilla. At a lesser altitude there are forests with 
interesting specimens of the rubiaceous ( Cinchona , Guettarda ), lauri- 
neous and saxifragean species. The smaller trees belong to the Gen- 
cian , Compound , Rubeaceous , Scrofularean , Gesneriacean , Ericacian , 
Yalerianean , Umbelliferan , Car i of lean, Gramineous , Ciperacean and 
Ferns. Near the snow limit there grow some orchids, as the Orope- 
dium lindenii and several species of Masdevallia. 

There are 44 classes and 399 species of ferns, and 78 classes and 412 
species of orchids in Venezuela. 

FAUNA.« 

Zoologic region.—The earth is divided into six zoologic regions. 
The fifth region, the neotropic , is subdivided into four provinces. 
Venezuela belongs to the second province of the fifth zoologic region 
of the world. 

General character of the fauna.—The general character of the fauna 
is the same in the whole country, subject only to certain modifications 
due to the situation and nature of the soil. The eastern reo*ion of Gua- 
yana has the same species of animals as the northern part of Brazil. 
Animal life on the western ranges is similar to that of Colombia. 

«Data from Doctor Sclater, Bush, Owen, Van Beneden, Cuvier and Valenciennes, 
Weyenbergh, E. von Martens, Doctor Ernst. 



FAUNA. 


29 


The fauna of the llanos (plains) differs from that of the coast range, and 
on the islands along the coast the fauna is rudimentary. 

Mammalia.—There are three orders of mammalia, the representatives 
of which are not very well known in the Venezuelan fauna, viz: 
Monkeys, bats, and rodents. 

Monkeys.—Twenty different species of quadrumanes belonging to 
the following eleven classes: Mycetes, Lagothrix , Atele , Cebus , Pithe- 
cia , Brachynos , Nyctipithecus , Callitlirix , Ilapale , and Oedipus. 

Rodents.—There are twelve known classes of rodents , as follows: 
musculus L. , ff/ws decumanus Pall., Cercolabes prehensilis Brdt., 
Cavia Aperea L., Ilydrochmrus capybara Exl., Coclongenys paca 
Wagn., Dasyprocta aguti Wagn., Myopotamsis coy pus Geoffr., Lon- 
cheres crisata Wart., Echimys cay on . Desm., Lepus brasilensis L., and 
many other species of held and forest mice. 

Carnivorous.—The representatives of this order of animals belong 
to the four families of felines, canines, martens, and bears. Of the 
first family seven species are well known in Venezuela, viz: Fells con- 
color L., F. par dal io L., F. onza L., F. mitis Cuv., F. tigrina Schreb., 
F. yaguarurdi Desm., F. macrura Pr. Max. 

The canines are represented by the species of Canis Azaree Bengg , 
and it is not known whether the dogs of the mountain tribes of Indians 
are of European origin. 

The martens have several representatives, among which are the Gali- 
citis vittata Bell and the Galicitis barbara Wag. in the rivers of the 
plains there are found the Lutra brasilensis Gray and the long-tailed 
Lutra pteronura. The most singular animal of this family is the 
Mephitis ( mapurite ). 

There is but one specie of bear in the western range called Ursus 
ornatus Cuv., and in other parts of the country are to be found the 
Ursus nasutus Sclat. and Cercoleptes candivolvulus Illig. There are 
only fossil remains of the Mastodon andium Cuv. 

Pachiderms.—Ruminants and even-toed pachiderms are represented 
by five species—two of Bycotile torquatus Cud. and labiatus and two 
of Cervas rufus III. and simplicornis. To this order belong swine, 
bovines, ovines, and goats. 

Cloven-footed and single-hoofed pachiderms are represented by the 
horse, imported by the Spaniards at the beginning of the sixteenth 
century, which has now attained a semiwild state on the plains, the 
ass of the same origin, and their hybrid product, the mule, but the 
tapir, Tapirus Amer. L., lives principally in the forests of the Orinoco. 

Cetacea.—Several cetacea visit the coast of Venezuela, and a species 
of dolphin (Inia boliv. d’Orb.) exists in the Orinoco and Casiquiare. 
The Manatus amer. Desm. is to be found along the coast from the 
Orinoco delta to the Gulf of Maracaibo. The Delphinus delphis L. 
and the Catadon macrocephalus Gray exists in abundance in the Carib¬ 
bean Sea. 


30 


VENEZUELA 


Marsupialia.—The most imperfect mammalia are three species of 
marsupialia, two of the genus Didelphys, and an aquatic variety, the 

Chiro metes vciriegatus . 

Edentate.—This order of mammals is represented by the Bradypus 
tridactylus, Dasypus novemcinctus, Myrmecophaga jubata and Aco- 
leptes candivolus. 


BIRDS.« 


There are four different ornithological districts in Venezuela, in 
which live 315 families and 566 species of birds. The birds of prey, 
as the Condor, live only on the highest mountain peaks. Flamingoes 
of the same species are found on certain islands along the coast end on 
the banks of the lagoons of the plains. 

Many birds are periodical, as the swallows and aquatic birds of the 
llanos , and migrate during the dry season. 

Birds of prey.—There are 3 species of this family. 

Hawks.— 1 Thirty-two diurnal and 6 meturnal rapacious species. 

Of the grazing order of birds there are 7 families and 28 species. 

Tisirostral (having the bill cleft beyond the horny part).—Of this 
section there exist the following families: Caprimulgides , 5 species; 
Ilirmdinidse (swallows), 3 species; Mamotides , 1 specie; Trogonides , 
7 species; Buconides , 6 species; Alcedindae , 3 species; Galbxdides , 3 


species. 

Tenuirostral (thin-billed, such as humming birds).—Of this section 
there exist 4 families and 98 species, as follows: Cerebides , 60 species; 
Anabatidae , 28 species; Troglodites , 10 species. 

Dentirostral (tooth-billed).—This section is represented by 10 fami¬ 
lies and 123 species, thus: Bar idee, 1 specie; Silvicolidae , 13 species; 
MotacHides, 2 species; Turdidse , 11 species; Cinchdae , 1 specie; Fermi- 
carudae , 16 species; Tiranidae , 50 species; Ampelidee , 1 specie; Con- 
tingidae , 24 species; and Yvrcorvidse , 4 species. 

Cornirostral. —Forty-six families, 111 species, thus: Ctovjs , 3 fami¬ 
lies, 6 species; Icteridae , 10 families, 21 species; Taragrides, 18 families, 
59 species; Frugilides, 14 families, 24 species; Ofistocomidae, 1 family, 
1 specie. 

Climbing birds. —Twenty-live families and 55 species, thus: Tucans, 
3 families, 8 species; Parrots, 6 families, 23 species; Peckers, 11 fami¬ 
lies, 16 species, and Cuckoos , 5 families and 55 species. 

Pigeons. —Six families and 8 species. 

Gailinacege.— Seven families and 1 specie. 

Strutliious. —Two families and 7 species. 

Gralidea. —Thirty-three families and 51 species. 

Aquatic. —Fifteen families and 22 species. 


a Gray, Letaud. 




ETHNOGRAPHY. 


31 


FISHES. 

The fishes are represented by -18 species, of which 22 are of the ossean 
or bony families, 5 of the cartilaginous , the last two are of the sea¬ 
water, and 21 of the river specimens. 

REPTILES. 

Turtles.—This order is represented by the sea and sweet-water tur¬ 
tles, by the Testudo tabulate !, Podocuemys trasca , Oinosternumscor- 
piodes , and Chelys fimbriata. 

Crocodiles.—There arc 11 species of this order of lizards. 

Serpents.—Are represented by 29 different families. 

Frogs.—The family of the batrachian is represented by 1 species. 

MOLLUSCS. 

There are 36 families and 132 species of molluscs. Three families 
and 6 species live in sea water, such as the pearl oyster and the common 
oyster, and 32 families and 126 species are sweetwater specimens. 

INSECTS. 

Coleoptera.—There are 8 families of beetles. 

Orthoptera/*—This order of insects is represented by 6 families. 

Neuroptera.—This order of insects is represented bv 2 families and 
various species. 

Hymenoptera.—The membrane-winged order of insects consists of 
23 families. 

Lepidoptera.—The insects whose wings are covered with overlap¬ 
ping scales are represented by 11 families. 

Hemiptera.—Four families of this order are found. 

Rhipiptera. — 1 There are 3 families of this order. 

Diptera.—There are 7 families of this order. 

Parasites.—There are 7 families of this order. 

Centipedes.—There are 2 families of this order. 

Spiders.—There are 9 families of this order. 

Crustacea. 6 —There are 4 families of this order. 

Annelida.—There are 5 families of this order. 

Zoophytes.—There are 4 families of this order. 

ETHNOGRAPHY, * 

Ethnogenic group-.—When Venezuela was discovered it was inhab¬ 
ited by more than 150 ethnogenic groups of aborigines, who spoke 
11 languages and 150 dialects. 


« Wilkes. 

b Muller, Hildebrand, Delphino. 

£ Humboldt, Codazzi, Balbi, Schomburgk, Wallace, A. Rojas, Landaeta-Rosales. 



32 


VENEZUELA. 


/ 


Heroic Caciques.—The history of the Spanish conquest is synthe¬ 
sized in the names of the following live heroic Indian chiefs (called 

Caciques ), namely: Guaicaipuro , Paramaconi , Sorocaima , Tamanaco , 
and Guaricurian. 

Regions inhabited by aborigines.—Hereunder is given a list of the 
Indian tribes and the regions they inhabited when Venezuela was dis- 
covered. The recent territorial division has been adopted to give 
an accurate idea of the primitive settlements: 

In Apure: Achaguas, Airicos, Atisacaimas, Betolles, Canicamares, 
Cumayos, Chiricoas, Choques, Guacuaros, Guayupes, Otomacos, 
Situfas, and Tovores. 

In Aragua: Ajaguas, Araguas, Meregotes, Mucunas. 

In Barcelona: Cachaimas, Cachicamos, Caimas, Cumanagotos, Cha- 
cachacares, Chacacuanes, Characuases, Guaribes, Palenques, Tumuzas. 

In Barquisimeto: Ajaguas, Coyones, Cuivas, Gallones, Guaricos, 
Guaroes; Guedubais, Giieros, Jirajaras, Omocaros, Taparitos, Tones, 
Tocuyos, Yanaconas, Yajures. 

In Bolivar: Arbacos, Caracas, Charagotos, Chavavaros, Gandules, 
Mariches, Mayas, Meregotes, Paracotos, Quiriquires, Taramainas, 
Tamanacos, Tarmas, Teques, Tumuzas. 

In Carabobo and Cojedes: Nirvas, Tacariguas. 

In Cumana: Araucas, Cacheimes, Cumanagotos, Chacopatas, Chai- 
mas, Guaiquenes, Iparagotos, Olleros, Pariagotos, Pitagotazos, Tapa- 
cuares, Uriaparis. 

In Falcon and Coro: Caiquetias, Chitas, Choques, Guaipis, Guarau- 
nos, Jirajaras, Jascaneyes, Piracaras, Piribanes, Topueros. 

In El Guarico: Amaibos, Atapaimes, Caracicanas, Chirigas, Guamas, 
Guaribes, Giiires, Mapoyes, Orochaimas, Tiznados. 

In Guayana: Acabais, Axherecoties, Amoisanas, Araucas, Arecunas, 
Ariguas, Arinagotas, Armacotas, Arivianos, Asanesis, Atures, A vanes, 
Avarigotos, Avimaris, Avenanos, Ayanos, Banivas, Barias, Barinagotos, 
Berapaquinabis, Cabres, Cabrios, Cadupinapos, Caracicanos, Caribes, 
Carinacos, Caruzanas, Caveros, Ciaperos, Civitenis, Deesanas, Ecu- 
anabis, Guacaros, Guaharibos, Guahibos, Guaicas, Guaipunabis, Guai- 
maos, Guamos, Guanimaneses, Guaraunos, Guayanos, Giiiriguiripas, 
Hiripiripas, Macos, Nacuenes, Maipures, Maguacos, Maguetanos, 
Mapoyes, Manoas, Marepiranos, Maretevitanos, Mariquitares, Maro- 
nonis, Muchuchies, Mucurus, Muiscas, Ojes, Omeguas, Otomacos, 
Pacibis, Pairenes, Panares, Pandacotos, Parecas, Parenes, Pariagotos, 
Piaroas, Pumabos, Puipitines, Quariquenas, Quevacu, Quiriscanas, 
Salivas, Tahagomas, Taparitos, Ucanabais, Uriaparis, Varacas, Vares, 
Vayamares, Vochearios, Yaruros, Yocuras. 

In Maturin: Guaraunos, Cuneguaros, Tuapocas. 

In Merida: Aricaguas, Aviamos, Bailadores, Chamas, Escagiielles, 
Escoques, Iquinos, Macobas, Miyuses, Mombunes, Mucuchies, Mucu- 


NATIVE RACES. 


33 


clinches, Mucurubas, Quinos, Tabayes, Tapainos, Tostos, Tricaguas, 
Yancaguas. 

In Portuguesa and Zamora: Amaibas, Atures, Baraures, Barrancas, 
Cucaros, Curaguas, Cherechirenas, Dasaros, Duriguas, Giieros, Tobo- 


res, Tucuriguas. 

In El Tachira: Was included in Merida. 

In Trujillo: Cuicas, Escuques, Timotes, Tostos. 

In El Yaracuy: Jirajaras, Nirvas. 

In El Zulia: Alcoholados, A tiles, Babures, Caratas, Cocinas, Cocine- 
tas, Motilones, Onotos, Quiriquires, Ravichas, Sabriles, Tamanares, 
Toas, Zaparas. 

In the Territory of Goajira: In 1873 there existed 15 tribes. 

The tribes of Apure, Aragua, Barcelona, Barquisimeto, Bolivar, 
Coro, Cumana, Carabobo, Cojedes, Guarico, Maturin, Merida, Portu¬ 
guesa, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zamora, and Zulia were extin¬ 
guished by war, the conquest, and because of having mixed with the 
general population. There are still some Indians in Apure, Barce¬ 
lona, and Maturin, and the tribes of Guayana and the Goagira are the 
only pure types in existence now. 


NATIVE RACES. 


[By Dr. J. Hampden Porter.] 

Since there is no doubt that a country’s geographical position and 
peculiar natural features—its coast line, rainfall, soil, temperature, 
spontaneous vegetable growths and indigenous animal species, with 
such river systems or mountain ranges as it may contain—will deter¬ 
mine social development among primitive men who reside there, 
some description of these phenomena displayed in different regions has 
been prefixed to each chapter upon native races occupying South 
America. Complete physiographic details, however, are not required 
for an understanding of those coercive influences which environments 
exert over mankind while natural selection’s direct action remains 
almost unmodified by artificial devices and successive adjustments. 
It was in connection with so-called aborigines distributed through 
Venezuela that Humboldt and Bonplan said, “The accidents of cli¬ 
mate and configuration are felt in all their force only among a race 
of men who, endowed with a happy disposition of the mental facul¬ 
ties, receive some exterior impulse. 11 a No trace indicating extra¬ 
neous aid has been discovered here, unless those rock carvings, which 
remain, point to an occupation by strangers who had awakened to 
self consciousness and attempted some record of existing impressions 
or past events. Assuming the presence of prehistoric residents who 
either degenerated or passed away, European invaders were, so far 


^Travels. London, 1821, vol. v., p. 500. 


4a—04- 


-3 







34 


VENEZUELA. 


as known, these Indians’ sole instructors, and trans-Atlantic civiliza¬ 
tion failed to be absorbed by the “American man" wherever an effort 
toward implanting it was made. His cultures—widely separated in 
space, developed by different stocks, unequally evolved, culminating 
under the action of surroundings altogether dissimilar—must have had 
this common likeness, namely, they began where nature aided those 
initial advances that enabled communities possessing inherent powers 
to conquer difficulties presented by habitats which subsequently became 
permanent residences and the sites of all future accomplishments. 

Whenever from any cause such preliminary training could not take 
place, environing circumstances and an adventitious mingling of blood 
strains determined human destinies on this continent. Pure savages 
unfavorably placed, sometimes made enough progress to differentiate 
tribes of the same family from one another; but, as a rule, they merely 
established an unstable equilibrium with nature that was easily and 
frequently overthrown, or branches of main stocks withered and fell 
away. To adopt momentarily an incorrect and obsolete phraseology, 
whole tribes, groups, and u nations " have disappeared because adverse 
situations rendered them irremediably unlit. 

Venezuela contained no area where a trophic center was formed; no 
district sufficiently extensive and in every way adjusted to the needs 
of unevolved mankind, where natives drew together within its limits, 
abandoned nomadic habits, inaugurated an artificial basis for support, 
and so conformed with the first requirements upon which ulterior 
improvement is founded everywhere. Col. A. Codazzi, of whom it 
was said in a somewhat exaggerated way by J. Mudie Spence a that he 
“did all whichever has been done" for Venezuelan geography, divided 
this country with reference to the mean temperatures prevailing in 
different sections.^ These “cold, temperate, and hot” zones corre¬ 
spond to more important physical features presented by regions that 
other observers characterize as “forested, grazing, and agricultural” 
provinces. Ultimately thermal contrasts, with all they imply as con¬ 
trolling factors of climatic phenomena or spontaneous production, here 
depend entirely upon elevation. The mountain chains run irregularly 
through areas which are wholly equatorial, and unequal upheaval alone 
effects striking differences between territories that would otherwise be 
correspondingly fitted for human habitation. Both the Sierra Madre 
de Parima and Maritime Andes Consist of parallel ridges inclosing 
vales or table-lands which are dissimilar in each case, and also separate 
spaces without uniformity on either side, while those highlands lying 
west of the coast range present scarcely any trace of symmetrical 
development. These discordant surface arrangements would operate 
toward producing dissimilarities among indigenes whose unprepared 


«The Land of Bolivar. London, 1878. 

frResumen de la Geografia de Venezuela. Paris, 1844. 





Handbook of Venezuela 





■ 


> 






mm 


GROUP OF CARIBBEAN INDIANS. 

(Courtesy of Mr. M. I. Arestigueta, Ciudad Bolivar.) 








NATIVE RACES. 


35 


state rendered them almost passive to external conditions, and simi¬ 
larly, tribes placed within great forest belts, or in so far as the Llanos 
were ever peopled by pure Indians, those vast treeless expanses of undu¬ 
lating plains, must likewise have made a struggle for life and its con¬ 
comitant effects upon regional communities, altogether different in its 
character and consequences. 

There was enough space within the confines of Venezuela for many 
races, since it is larger than France, German} 7 , and the Netherlands 
combined, yet we have no positive knowledge of more than two dis¬ 
tinct native families; while, notwithstanding that such local diversities 
as have been referred to were naturally engendered through divergent 
physiographic action, their differentiations only went to a limited 
extent, and aboriginal aggregates in respect of characteristics acquired 
through intercourse with special environments might properly be 
divided into highlanders, and lowland populations occupying the 
Orinoco’s hydrographic basin. Unfortunately for ethnological knowl¬ 
edge, however, a large part of these grand divisions remains unex¬ 
plored. Little has been done by scientific observers, says Spence, 
toward making known regions which lie beyond ordinary lines of 
travel, and Elise Reclus a remarks that the terra incognita of this 
country is much more extensive than those portions we are acquainted 
with. These unvisited tracts have been pointed out by Desire Pector, 6 
and he records the names of numerous groups who occupy them; but 
tribal titles amount to nothing without supplementary information 
concerning family, definite situation, social status, etc., and no such 
data are at present procurable. They stand unidentified and unknown, 
like that long list of Venezuelan tribes given in Appendix No. 1 to 
Fray Jacinto de Carvajal’s explorations along the A pure, c and which, 
apart from a doubtful Carib class, are not referred by its compiler to 
any particular stocks. 

Proportionally to its area this country contains a large amount of 
cultivable land, although the original inhabitants made few improve¬ 
ments in agriculture and never supported themselves by tillage. They 
were not sufficiently advanced to overcome any obstacles which those 
diversifications of surface previously noted placed in their way. 
Among these deterrent conditions also many existed that savages 
found insuperable, and could never have surmounted. The mighty 
woodlands of upper South America clothed large territories otherwise 
available for farming purposes. Their overwhelming growths defied 
efforts at affecting clearings, while since the men who constantly 
attempted it were constitutionally incapable of persistent endeavor, 
their intermittent enterprises utterly failed, and dense jungles imine- 


«The Earth and its Inhabitants. N. Y., 1894 

J > Notes sur l’Americanisme. Paris, 1900. 

c Relacion del descubrimiento del Rio Apure. Leon, 1892. 








36 


VENEZUELA. 


diately obliterating all traces of human endeavor. Forests scattered 
Indian groups, stifled progress at its birth, extinguished whatever 
latent faculty may have inhered in the peoples the} 7 drove to river 
banks as nomadic bands of savage fishermen whose only fields were 
open, natural glades. 

In numerous instances upland valleys proved fertile, and to some 
extent had been always cultivated, but very frequently their soil was 
nearly barren. The adjacent mountains stood “in ruins,” as John Ball 
expresses a state produced by erosion/' and detritus of gneiss, clay-slate, 
mica, or chlorite schists, etc., spread over neighboring vales and cham¬ 
paign tracts, rendering them equally unproductive, with riverine savan¬ 
nas sometimes sterilized by granitic sand washed down from heights. 
Here and there desert spaces dotted the llanos, but mold overlay its 
clayey beds, enriched with humus derived from decaying shrubs or 
grasses during an incalculable period; while less deep layers similarly 
composed cover those isolated accumulations of marl and sand called 
mesas. Thus far, however, investigation has revealed nothing which 
indicates the presence of settled native communities. There are no 
vestiges suggesting a prehistoric culture excelling that now prevalent 
among wild tribes bordering upon these plains, and the presumption 
is that they have lain desolate at all times, although more unpromis¬ 
ing habitats supported permanent populations in America or elsewhere. 

The anthropological survey of Venezuela brings its biological con¬ 
ditions into prominence at once because, in case physical states were 
below par, certain social results would follow as matters of course—it 
is a baseless fancy that men’s minds at any developmental stage get the 
better of bodily disability. Comparing tribes with those belonging to 
contiguous lands, how far did this country favor primitive human 
beings almost wholly incapable of protecting themselves against any 
malign influences? Without question it was exempt from graver 
forms of epidemic disease. Its temperate zones were decidedly salu¬ 
brious, and the common testimony given by earlier and later travelers 
concedes health, vigor, muscular strength, longevity to these indigenes 
at large. 

Possibly long-settled populations in all provinces may have been 
relatively well, strong, and tit. Acclimation does much toward pro¬ 
moting general sanitation. Special diets produce external traits which 
conceal real physical qualities quite effectually. Briefly, pestilence 
nowhere destroys nearly so many lives as everyday and universal dis¬ 
orders of which patients die or get well principally according to 
existent constitutional states that none but specially trained observers 
can detect. Notwithstanding an exceptionally brisk atmospheric cir¬ 
culation due to the trade wind, caldereto or land breeze, and those air 


a Notes of a Naturalist in South America. London, 1887. 





NATIVE RACES. 



currents that J. B. J. I). Boussingault a noted in connection with 
interior waters, ailments from which protracted residence only gives a 
partial immunity prevail to some extent. Pulmonary complaints, 
intestinal seizures, malarial fevers, necessarily afflict all regions where 
changes of temperature are extreme, alimentation is complete or posi¬ 
tively bad, and such rivers as the Orinoco, Negro, Caura, Meta, Apure 
overflow periodically. That high death rate recorded by Colonels 
James Hackett°andG. Ilippisley c among foreign troops during the war 
of independence was, however, evidently occasioned by faulty equip¬ 
ment and wretched supply, fully as much as through morbid climatic 
action. The general healthfulness of Venezuela may be admitted, 
says John Hawkshawp 7 although no satisfactory explanation is possible 
of those ameliorating circumstances that rendered pathogenetic agents 
less virulent there than in countries touching its eastern, western, and 
southern borders. Public hygiene among natives dwelling here was 
seriously affected by other causes of illness, exhaustion, and ultimate 
extinction; but a review of morbific influences which wrought dis- 
astrously here can only be made intelligible Iry previously describing 
modes and appliances of life, the food supply nature afforded, together 
with social organizations universal^ presiding over man’s appropriation 
or use of such materials as he employs in order to live. 

Certain invariable truths apply to everything subsequently said upon 
the subjects stated above. (1) Human organisms, consisting of ele¬ 
ments that waste with functional activity and require constant renewal, 
if ph} T sical or mental integrity are preserved, the value attaching to 
any country’s indigenous food stores, are less dependent upon multi¬ 
plicity in edible species among its fauna and flora than on their 
ability^ to subserve those ends demanded by normal nutrition. (2) 
Staples, properly so called, when belonging to the vegetable king¬ 
dom, are nowhere spontaneously,produced, either in such forms or 
amounts as would supply populations with normal nourishment. (3) 
Irrespectively of other requisites, quantity plays a minor part in 
alimentation, and it by no means follows that men are adaquatcly fed 
because their stomachs have been filled. Masses may be slowly starved 
into chronic enfeeblements of mind or body, become degenerate, and 
verge upon extinction, without being cut off from provisions. (I) 
Primitive societies never sensibly improve or increase their means of 
support and can not employ what they possess to advantage. A sav¬ 
age, however well provided he appears, is always underfed, and in the 
same degree he must be incapacitated. 

With reference to the geographical distribution of plants and 

« Yiajes cientffico's. Paris, 1849. 

& Narrative. London, 1818. 

c Expedition to the Orinoco and Apure. London, 1819. 

d Reminiscences of South America. London, 1888. 



38 


VENEZUELA. 


animals, those subdivisions among both classes upon whose existence 
man’s life and all his works depend, are alike in Venezuela, Guiana, 
Amazonas, and the northern Andean lowlands. This corresponds 
with physiographic likeness between these equatorial regions pointed 
out by Deniker/ and taken together they account for that essential 
sameness in modes of living or cultural developments prevailing among 
aboriginal communities scattered over the territories specified. Nearly 
identical means and methods of subsistence, with very similar terres¬ 
trial surroundings, left only race inheritance or accidental commin- 
glings among alien groups to originate variations. None of these 
provinces were great natural game preserves; they did not harbor 
those animals most useful to mankind, while the potato or maize hav¬ 
ing their homes elsewhere, and it being impossible for such savages 
to introduce them effectively, native inhabitants had no highly nutri¬ 
tious vegetables except bananas. 

In Venezuela, however, none suffered for food otherwise than as 
savages always entail periodical famines upon themselves. Maguey, 
says Spence, grows on all its soils, and in some instances outside of 
this country the varied products yielded by that plant have alone gone 
far toward supporting American Indians. But tribes here were not 
subjected to the same deprivations as beset Arizona Apaches, for 
example, and utilized its leaves, fibers, or bulbs much less thorough^. 
They possessed edibles derived from mimosa, desmanthus, and acacia 
ganera; there was an unlimited supply of calabashes or palms. Can¬ 
delas, camarrubas, cupanas, purpuras, grow in profusion, while other¬ 
wise unproductive spaces, described bv Carl Sachs, * 6 contained mauricia 
flexuosa, called “the tree of life." Spence’s list of succulent roots 
with high nitrogen determinations, apio, capachos, yucca, lairenes, 
mapuey, etc.; the multitudinous fruits mentioned by Manuel Llorente 
Vasquez/ and to whose numbers Cayvajal, while adding considerably, 
remarks that most of them are sweet and therefore readily converted 
into intoxicating drinks through fermentation, might easily be enlarged 
if it were desirable to do more than show how rich the Venezuelan 
flora is in this class of uncultivated nutritives. As was said, plenty 
reigns throughout all districts now inhabited or formerly occupied by 
wild tribes, but abundance and sufficiency have not convertible signifi¬ 
cations where eatables are concerned. To repeat statements made in 
a previous chapter/ nutrition underlies that entire series of activities 
called life. Food is the primary and most universal necessit} T among 
all living beings. Throughout nature differentiations of every kind 
mainly subserve means for procuring it. In the beginning societies 

« Les Races et les Peuples de la Terre. Paris, 1900. 

& Aus den Llanos. Leipzig, 1879. 

c Cuadros Americanos. Madrid, 1891. 

d United States of Brazil, p. 47. Washington, D. C.', 1901. 




39 


NATIVE RACES. 


take shape according to its supply, and they never escape from this 
controlling influence. Want of sustenance drove mankind into those 
changes of place where their transformations occurred, and if it be 
permissible to particularize one factor as having predominantly con¬ 
tributed toward making human aggregates what the} r are, food comes 
first. There is little exaggeration in saying that culture history began 
with hunger. Those aborigines residing here peopled a land whose 
spontaneous bounty kept them alive at the cost of little exertion. 
Nothing less strenuous than an alternative between starvation and 
tillage could have made these Indians cultivate those valuable staples 
which merely existed among them, therefore no decisive attempt at 
establishing an artificial basis of support ever took place, and conse¬ 
quently the} 7 stagnated without exception in savagery. Nature, as 
she always does, exacted the penalty for incompetency, however it 
may have been brought about, and here it was the inevitable issue of 
biological conditions. Vegetable substances of the kinds employed and 
animal nutritives presently to be mentioned, did not fulfill physiological 
requirements; they neither permitted life to attain higher grades, nor 
preserved a permanent equilibrium in those vital functions upon whose 
normal relations prosperity everywhere depends. 

There was no scarcity of flesh foods in Venezuela. Yet as always 
happens wherever domesticated animals are absent, and large grega¬ 
rious species do not range, meat, which besides satisfying appetite 
would also make muscle and store energy, could never be procured 
with ease or regularity. Varying fish-runs, bird-flights, turtle migra¬ 
tions, with the wanderings of marine or terrestial vertebrates, involved 
periods of scarcity (not to be recovered from by subsequent gorgings) 
such as H. W. Bates observed among men similarly situated on the 
Amazons," and Karl von den Steinen throughout central Brazil. 6 
Aliments of both these classes—chemically inferior, spasmodically 
supplied, and badly prepared—when continuously furnished to popu¬ 
lations who can not improve their fare, will act with the inevita¬ 
bility of fate, and any so-called anthropological description which 
ignores those primary conditions that incapacitated families, stultified 
whatsoever innate endowments they may have possessed, kept commu¬ 
nities apart, forced tribes into disruption, and produced constitutional 
states, preventing recovery from such shocks as constantly assail 
undeveloped masses, must fall short of its most important purpose. 
The power to effect anything primitive men have ever accomplished 
comes through inheritance, it is strictly controlled by surroundings, 
and what has been said concerning efficient causes for general failure 
^ or decay, can not be more fully illustrated than in case of those Vene¬ 
zuelan aborigenes who come under consideration. 


a The Naturalist on the Amazons. London, 1876. 

&Unter den Naturvdlken Zentral-Braziliens. Berlin, 1894. 





40 


VENEZUELA. 


Not long ago—as time is counted in relation to human history— 
indigenes of this country were comparatively numerous, and making 
all due allowances for overestimates by sixteenth or seventeenth 
century chroniclers, it seems certain that within recorded periods 
there has been a marked oscillation of numbers and also condition 
among those aggregates peopling northern or southeastern uplands, 
together with all champaign districts. During most of that time, 
between Spanish invasion and our own era, dispersion, massacre, 
exhaustion from overwork, imported disease, alcohol, and despair, 
thinned out Gumilla’s “many nations," until it seemed as if their 
extinction were at hand. Now, however, there are 66,000 unmixed 
Indians whose independence is not likely to be interfered with; 
326,000 full-blooded natives, and 240,000 that, having abandoned wan¬ 
dering or semi-nomadic lives, support themselves through tillage. Other 
American aborigenes have done as much, even without such advantages 
as these reorganized Barre, Carib, and Arawak branches from savage 
stocks enjoy—namely, cereals developed to the full extent of their 
nutritive capabilities, domesticated animals, and improved appliances 
which make a struggle for existence much less arduous than formerly. 
What results may finally ensue no one can foresee. Extraneous aid 
has thus far never given Americans an impetus that would propagate 
itself. They are seemingly devoid of that “happy constitution of the 
mental faculties" Humboldt specified as necessary for continued prog¬ 
ress. No true civilization has ever arisen on this continent, and its 
tribes, wherever placed have stopped short at barbarism. Up to this 
time they have not really assimilated higher cultures, either amicably 
proffered for acceptance, or indoctrinated by force. 

A remark connected with native populations en masse, quite properly 
introduces what can be said concerning ethnic groups in Venezuela 
and the general distribution of resident families. This statement 
relates to an opinion that aborigines here were partially or wholly 
united during some indefinite era of antiquity. J. Deniker a , for 
example, brings together eastern Caribs, Arawaks, Maypures, with 
Miranhas and Banos on the west—all these lying to a considerable 
extent outside the land whose peoples are now discussed—and although 
marked contrasts exist between respective culture systems, habits pf 
life (or it might be added physical traits) among those aggregates, he 
includes them all in one branch of a theoretical Amazonian-Guiana 
race called distinctively South American, looking upon the widely 
dissevered groups represented here as blood relations. Perhaps their 
directly post-Pleistocene ancestors were kinsmen, but that has little to 
do with those families we know about and which, from differentia¬ 
tions wrought through immemorial ages, are at present very unlike. 

a Les Races et les Peuples de la Terre. Paris, 1900. 




NATIVE RACES. 


41 


Humboldt mid Bonplan a give over a thousand square leagues lying 
between the Orinoco, Cassiquiare, Atabapo, and Rio Negro to com¬ 
munities forming a Tamanac race which can not be identified, while 
Tommaso Caivano 6 declares Venezuela’s primitive inhabitants formed 
one great agglomeration of kindred societies. 

These hypothetical races, subraces, and grand groups indicated by 
Retzius, Deniker, Siamiradski, or Caivano are unsustainable; unfor¬ 
tunately, opinions upon known families, with a majority of tribes 
occupying this ethnological province, remain in an exemplary state 
of confusion, uncertainty, and conflict. Taking the classification 
made by Von den Steinen, Adam, Ehrenreich as a starting point, we 
find that two out of those four divisions (Cariban, Tupi-Guaranian, 
Arawakan, and Gesan) into which they separate Brazilian Indians, 
are also the most prominent aggregates settled here. If a family 
means anything, however, it implies that its members resemble each 
other in characteristic peculiarities and differ from offshoots belong¬ 
ing to other stocks. That is true of Venezuelan Caribs or Arawaks; 
yet A. de Quatrefages c ignores these systematic arrangements and 
all data on which they rest by asserting that the Cariban groups of 
Brazil, Guiana, this country whose native population is being con¬ 
sidered, together with these same aborigines in their West Indian 
habitats, are really Guaranians. 

Nothing can be gained by multiplying those instances of radical dis¬ 
agreement that beset ethnological literature; but tribes who have been 
observed during four centuries retain special names, inhabit ascer¬ 
tained localities, present distinctive mental or physical characters, and 
exhibit sociological differences which may be described without ref- 
erence to questions of origin that can not be settled by any incontro¬ 
vertible evidence. These Venezuelans are not all Arawakan or Cariban 
societies. Muyscan immigrants inhabit the Merida highlands, and 
similarly long-skulled Warrans from Guiana—men of a marked proto- 
European type—lead semiamphibious lives on the middle Orinoco and 
its delta. The former shaped those rude stone idols, neolithic imple¬ 
ments, and antique pottery of which counterparts abounded all over 
Colombian plateaus; but rock cuttings depicting men, or the snake 
symbol, innumerable unintelligible carvings upon river cliffs and 
Caracas bone caves explored by Doctor Marcano/ as also in Cerro 
de los Muertos and Cerro de Luna caverns; besides sepulchral mounds 
corresponding to Old World barrows, have been assigned by 
archaeologists to some unknown people. 

Carl Sachs (Aus den Llanos) found Guamos and Otomacos of doubtful 


« Travels, vol. 4, pt. 1. London, 1825. 
b II Venezuela. Milan. 1897. 

c Histoire Generale des Races Humaines. Paris, 1889. 
d L’ Ethnographie precolombienne du Venezuela. Paris, 1889. 





42 


VENEZUELA. 


extraction on the southern plains. There are Panos who, as identified 
by R. de la Grasscrie/' migrated from A ndine lowlands; Guayanos, after 
whom “the Large, Rich, and Bewtifull Empire of Guiana”—so called 
by Sir Walter Raleigh—was named; dwarfish Ayamanes, not taller 
than Central African Akkas or Obongoes, and Kamurika bands, says 
J. Chaff angon, * & inextricably mixed. Besides these, and many other 
alien tribes and indistinguishable offshoots from various stocks whom 
it is unnecessary to catalogue, there are also nondescript Miranhas 
(vagabonds), with “ White Indians,” Guaicas, Guainares, Poignares, 
etc., whose lighter tint Keane regards as a result of foreign crossing, 
though Reel us adds climate and food as necessary adjuncts. Hum¬ 
boldt, however, states that they live under the same climatic influences 
as their darker neighbors, “ subsist on the same aliment,” and, 
furthermore, “it would be impossible to take them for a mixed race.” 

An incongruity like this, which flamy and others consider separa¬ 
tive in its character, is more than equaled by bodily contrasts existing’ 
between members of the same families. “ Ph} T sically,” Keane remarks, 
“Arawaks differ from Caribs scarcely, if at all, more than their Ama¬ 
zonian and Guiana sections differ from each other.” But marked 
unlikenesses display themselves within the limits of both groups. 
Brazilian Caribs—those on the upper Xingu, for example, with 
Bakairi and Nalmgua tribes also, have that short skull inherited from 
their remote proto-Mongol ancestors who invaded America. This 
cranial type likewise prevails among Cariban, Macuse, Kalinas, or 
Galibi, in English, Dutch, and French Guiana, as it does here, where 
Vayamaras, Aracunas, and Caripe communities are distinctively brachy- 
cephalic. Roundheadedness, however, fades away into subdolicho- 
cephaly and mesatocephalism throughout the whole geographical range 
mentioned. Caribs live there who, besides wanting a Mongoloid skull, 
have lighter or darker complexions, greater or less average height, 
robustness, vigor, and general faculty. That old Venezuelan Chaima 
group, now represented b} T Makirifare and Motilone societies, extend¬ 
ing from east to west, scarcely bore any family resemblance to smaller, 
“ fair-skinned ” (clair de peau, says Deniker), congeners of the West 
Indies, who harried native settlements there perpetually, kept at war 
with Spanish, French, and English colonies for generations, and were 
nearly exterminated ultimately but never conquered. 

The same corporeal variations appear among widely distributed 
Arawaks, although in psychic constitution these indigenes appear to 
have been altogether unlike those before-mentioned savages whose 
name was everywhere associated with spoliation, massacre, and can- 

a Cong. International Americanister. Berlin, 1888. 

& L’Orenoque et le Caura. Paris, 1889. 



NATIVE RACES. 


43 


nibalism. On account of their usual situation near implacable ene¬ 
mies, more or less lighting was unavoidable; moreover, being urged 
by social evolution and mental development into acts which civilized 
men regard as criminal, they no doubt aggressed against weaker 
communities, whether of kindred strains or otherwise; but commonly 
this group throughout historic times gained a reputation for quietness 
and an inclination toward peaceful occupations. Both the families 
described exhibited an equal incapacity for improvement; neither 
emerged from savagery; each originated or acquired elements of cul¬ 
ture so essentially similar in all anthropological particulars, that such 
trifling dissimilarities as are displayed by specimens of like designs, 
manufactures, or general habitudes tell us nothing about any differ¬ 
ential traits which can be attributed to these aggregates separately. 

As has been said, Arawakans were not the same everywhere any 
more than Caribs. Everard F im Thurn designates them as the most 
stunted natives of Guiana/* Those inhabiting eastern Haiti and Porto 
Rico formed a distinct subvariety (Deniker). Cuban aborigines 
belonging to this family are hyperbrachycephalous; yet, on the main¬ 
land their blood relations sometimes incline to an opposite type. So 
with bodily conformation and mental organization at large, they 
present quite visible unlikenesses in different regions, where peoples 
gradually^ becoming Americanized en bloc still show characteristics 
inherited from utterly disunited parent stocks, and present modiiica- 
tions due to influences exerted by many environments. Primitive 
organic plasticity, acted upon by frequent change of place, with mul¬ 
tiplied intermixtures, will account for that variability which has been 
noticed among tribes derived from one source. 

Before leaving two acknowledged families to review tribes whose 
genealogies can not be established and who are only recognizable as 
communities bearing tribal names connected with certain places, some 
brief notice of West Indian Arawaks and Caribs is demanded for 
completeness’ sake. These former natives have been placed flrst 
because they were probably true aborigines in both Greater and 
Lesser Antilles, as well as the Bahama Islands. At all events no 
known Indians preceded them, and as their villages were scattered 
over this whole archipelago it is likely that emigration from Venezuela 
set in at an early period. Taking into consideration the dispersed 
and completely unorganized condition of those Indians while occupy" - 
ing continental abodes, knowing the distances traversed, their ineffi¬ 
cient means for transportation by water, and how impossible it would 
have been for large numbers to gather before starting or support 
themselves after they had arrived, the gradual peopling of island sites 
during a long period is a foregone conclusion. Moreover, early 
visitors all describe small, scattered settlements; no concentration 


"Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. II, p. 465. London, 1880. 





44 


VENEZUELA. 


anywhere, and uniform states of savagery. These bands—primitive 
gentes, no doubt, with the system of land tenure peculiar to this 
social structure, and representing its inherent disabilities—could not 
live in masses. Their environments kept them apart; they were pre¬ 
vented from combining by insufficient supplies, and consequently 
stood still in a phase of development where such modifications in 
surroundings as might under other circumstances have been made 


became altogether impracticable. These insular habitats contained no 
large game, and but a limited number of edible land animals. Most 
were mountainous in the interior; streams generally reached no con¬ 
siderable size, many failed during rainless intervals, and permanent 
reservoirs of every kind only existed on a small scale. Hence resident 
communities lived perforce on coasts, where fishes and other sea foods 
could be procured, their numbers being comparatively few even 
before Oarib followed by European invasion drove multitudes inland, 
where they dwindled and failed rapidly. It was not onty massacre, 
an intolerable servitude, acquired vice and introduced disease, or per¬ 
secution of any sort that exterminated island Arawaks. They also 
faded away under natural conditions inimical to life and which these 
people had no power to improve. 

Ethnologists, through proofs satisfactory to themselves, have dis¬ 
covered that Cariban occupation of the West Indies iull}^ set in about 
two hundred years before Columbus arrived. However this may be, 
and an obvious inference from facts already given is that such a date 
violates all probabilities, they had certainly gone far toward extir¬ 
pating Arawakan settlers when Spanish posts were first established 
and before French adventurers founded their Guadaloupe, St. Chris¬ 
topher, Martinique, or other colonies. These Cibuneys, Gamatabeis, 
Gangules, etc., primarily occupied shore lines, where tribal units 
(gentes) lived as much together as circumstances—that is to sa}^, the 
amount of food procurable—would allow, while both families (Caribs 
or Arawaks) exhibited similar concentrative foci. Here, in common 
with those affiliated Indians whom Charles Waterton a saw throughout 
Dutch Guiana, communities inhabited clumps of palm-thatched sheds 
or palisade and wickerwork huts—seldom more than a dozen at one 
place—invariably placed close to waters furnishing edible supplies 
that were absolutely essential for self-preservation. Furniture, uten¬ 
sils, and arms were of the rudest kinds—cotton hammocks; a few 
rough earthen jars applied to purposes that gourds and calabashes 
would not answer; stone knives, pestles, sinkers, etc.; bone or shell 
pointed weapons; with well-made canoes often carrying mat sails. 
Either sex went almost naked; also, like nude savages everywhere, 
they painted or tattooed themselves, the pigment used being chiefly 
roucou dye. There were no public religious ceremonials ideas con- 


a Wanderings in South America. London, 1893. 





NATIVE RACES. 


45 


cerning an unseen world having developed no further than universal 
animistic conceptions originated fetishistic cults involving beliefs in 
witchcraft, sorcery, magic, requiring countercharms which medicine 
men provided, with a general tendency toward demon worship, prin¬ 
cipally directed toward the propitiation of some vaguely defined spirit 
embodying evil in its most powerful form. “L’esprit mauvais est la 
seule divinite,” says J. Chaffanson, a describing tribes belonging to 
the so groups on the Orinoco and Caura rivers. Half-cleared fields 
surrounded these little settlements, whose residents made an attempt 
at cultivating a few species—cassava, papaw, pepper, potatoes, plan¬ 
tains—but mainly depended upon spontaneous growths and game for 
subsistence. 

Early narratives, particularly those of the missionary fathers, Du 
Tertre 6 and Labat, 6 fully substantiate what has been said; moreover, 
making it plain that, unhappily for themselves, Arawaks, who were 
equal with their Carib enemies in most things, fall far below them as 
respects the capacity for self-protection. At a later da}? - Aristides 
Rojas d calls these indented or islet-fringed coasts “depots for bucca¬ 
neers;'' and when small Indian villages out of supporting distance 
from one another straggled along shores those hiding places abound¬ 
ing there constantly concealed piratical Cariban flotillas which swept 
them away, says H. H. Bell, 6 with fire, slaughter, and capture. War¬ 
riors who did not hesitate to meet the cannon and arquebuses of French 
or Spanish soldiers would easily overcome exceptionally unwarlike 
natives; while sixteenth as well as seventeenth century records show 
that between destructive aboriginal forays and foreign methods for 
improving the West Indies, their original inhabitants speedily disap¬ 
peared. 

There is no need to cite authorities on the subject of Carib cannibal¬ 
ism. Without exception observers have agreed upon its prevalence; 
not as part of a sacrificial rite, or in that modified form where anthro¬ 
pophagy becomes a means by which qualities residing in those persons 
eaten may be acquired, but practiced like any other mode of consum¬ 
ing flesh—unmitigated man-eating, such as prevailed until recently on 
the Middle Congo, and is repeatedly charged against many tribes of 
eastern South America during earlier times. It does not seem neces¬ 
sary to notice this custom further than an assumption that its origin 
was founded in a natural appetite will carry us. Undiscriminating 
and cacophagous savages had no sentiment which would taboo human 
flesh. Being omniverous they craved certain foods their surroundings 


« L’Orenoque et Caura. Paris, 1889. 

Mlistoire Generale des Antilles. Paris, 1687. 
c Voyage dans P Am4rique. Paris, 1742. 
d Estudios Historicos. Caracas, 1891. 

* Report on the Caribs of Dominica. London, 1902. 




46 


VENEZUEL 


did not supply sufficiently. “Meat hunger,” as Paul Du Chaillu calls 
it, drove them to foul feeding of every kind—cannibalistic feasts 
among other dietary abominations—and the same circumstances have 
produced similar results in many different countries. Given a like 
deprivation with corresponding states of development, and unless 
some preventive contingency intervenes, men will eat each other as 
naturally as they craze themselves by intoxicants, or adore a venomous 
snake. 

Although culture phases in both families were just above described 
together, Labat points out some dissimilarities in physical or mental 
traits and the appliances of life. Insular Caribans were considerably 
taller than average Arawaks, more muscular, endowed with greater 
vigor, enterprise, endurance, and courage. Du Tertre’s descriptions 
and plates show what great improvements in boat building had been 
made among more recent comers from Venezuela since river canoes 
were first carried eastward by an ocean stream that Edward John 
Pavne" confounded with the Antarctic drift current, but which 
Frederick A. Ober b and others now recognize as a surface movement 
due to the Orinoco’s outflow. Craft, whose tonnage and construction 
wholly unfitted them for seagoing vessels, gave wa\ r before better- 
modeled, efficiently riggged hulls, and, since Caribs were pirates rather 
than land outlaws, invention in this direction involved a considerable 
superiority over adversaries less well provided. They had better arms 
also; lances, swords, some chroniclers sa} T , but probably long stone 
knives or hard wood strips set with flint, shells, agouti teeth, etc., 
besides formidable hatchets and war bows that would “send an arrow 
through a knight and his horse,” like those weapons Pascual de Anda- 
goya describes as used by Carthagena and neighboring Indians. Cari- 
ban marauders likewise displayed one virtue that the unfortunate 
natives, whom their perpetual raids nearly exterminated during pre- 
Columbian times, do not seem to have shared, namely, cleanliness. 
Moreover, those savages were more completely clothed, women espe¬ 
cially, who used cotton garments—“ chimisettas” Labat calls them— 
which covered their bodies. Furthermore, in addition to limb cinc¬ 
tures, girdles, nose or ear ornaments, skin colorations apparently with¬ 
out any conventional design, except that when painted for war the 
eyes had red circles drawn around them, these “ Bedoweens” of South 
America, as Humbolt designates Caribs, wore caracolis—“gold-alloy 
plates” (Du Tertre). Small placer deposits in Guadaloupe are not 
known to have been worked, so that the adornments mentioned most 
likely came through communications kept open with terra firma by 
means of those well-built sailboats previously noted for their Weath¬ 
erly qualities. Finally, the up-to-date history of Cariban tribes 


a History of the New World called America. Oxford, 1892. 
& Camps in the Caribbees. Boston, 1886. 





NATIVE RACES. 


47 


clearly indicates that they exceeded Arawakan groups in intelligence, 
and, unlike these latter aborigines, ultimately received some tincture 
of civilization, abandoning nomadic or seminomadic habits, and be¬ 
coming peaceful, self-supporting people who, although diminish¬ 
ing through causes attributable to incomplete adaptation, yet made 
equal progress with almost any New World indigenes. “Civilisees et 
Catholiques” are terms Chaffanjon applies to certain communities on 
the Orinoco and Caura, who had, no doubt, been sensibly modified 
through the protracted influences exerted by higher cultures. Bell 
speaks in a less exaggerated way concerning “the last surviving rem¬ 
nant of these West Indian aborigines,” but describes them as being 
quiet, industrious cultivators and manufacturers. Similar instances 
might be cited; though it seems unnecessary to further corroborate 
the fact that under sufficient stress Caribs have made advances such as 
Arawaks do not appear capable of rivaling. 

Venezuela’s unclassed societies are very numerous, and on account 
of reasons already given, those doubtful aggregates—mixed popula¬ 
tions, intruders from neighboring lands, branches whose parent stocks 
are undiscoverable; a melange of misnamed, creolized, displaced, frag- 
mcntarv tribes—will be noticed with reference to those regions into 
which Codazzi and other geographers have divided this country. Its 
zones, however, run into one another. No distinct lines separate 
them, and their inhabitants occupy contiguous provinces wherein 
diverse natural features have given rise to special names for extensive 
areas. As examples, the coast range and Venezuelan Andes merge 
through upland valleys or slopes lying above adjacent plateaus trav¬ 
ersed by broad, fertile, subtropical vales, in that vast riverine basin 
where streams joining the Orinoco flow. Similarly, those central 
highlands which Reclus sa} 7 s do not form a mountain chain but 
compose an immense broken convex surface, surmounted by anticlinal 
foldings diftently inclined, with peaks, needle crags, abrupt escarp¬ 
ments, wide cirques, and descending quebradas, which are gradually 
lost amidst the Llanos. Excepting these latter, also, primeval forests 
grow alike within temperate parallels and on. torrid bottoms, so that 
the expression “woodland Indians” conveys no idea of locality. 
Speaking generally, northern and eastern portions of Venezuela were 
first colonized. Spaniards took possession, as Alexander \Ts bull 
(linea Alexandrina) permitted, and although in civil law resident 
natives—none of whom had any marked Cariban affinities—became 
free crown vassals, provincial authorities speedily established that 
encomienda system under which South American indigenes disap¬ 
peared as if a permanent pestilence wasted them away. Very soon 
this territory had no aboriginal inhabitants living in its settled parts; 
such fierce groups as Guahibos, or those Quivas of whom Desire Fac¬ 
tor asserts that they possessed “un veritable instinct de sauvergerie 


48 


VENEZUELA. 


brutale,” moving off with Japiraporos, etc., farther west. Like 
tribesmen at Carthagena described by Girolamo Benzoni,** “they did 
not want friendship from the King of Castile,” or his subjects there 
present, “who did nothing but injure them.” As for Carib societies 
bordering colonized regions (Chaimas, collectively so-called), all over¬ 
tures tending toward submission or peace were rejected, and it is onl} T 
recently their descendants (Ten Kate) living north of Bolivar, beyond 
Venezuela’s gulf (Pinart), or occupying the upper Yapura basin 
(Keane), have assumed a friendly attitude and exhibited any external 
signs of an improved social state. Certainly these long inveterate 
savages do not support Sir Arthur Helps’s suggestion* that “Indians 
who had, perhaps, the least of what we ordinarily call cultivation, give 
us an idea of having been most cultivable.” At large this family 
resisted instruction until it became, so to speak, compulsory; then 
they changed somewhat, though never much, and in so far showed 
superiority among masses, the majority of whom could not be modified 
at all, dwindling or perishing under processes instituted to that end. 

That immense alluvion, embracing the Orinoco Valley and those 
basins where all its tributary streams gather their waters, is spoken of 
by Marquis de Nadaillac c as containing a dense population, “mil¬ 
lions,” he asserts, “during the sixteenth centuiy. Humboldt and 
Bouplan, however, whose explorations took place about seventy-five 
years ago, estimated the number of inhabitants then living there at 
less than 1,000,000; and notwithstanding a great diminution, which 
from various causes followed European intrusion, this former compu¬ 
tation is probably an exaggeration. These latter travelers supposed 
that if nations of the lower regions of equinoctial America had partici¬ 
pated in the culture spread over its cold and alpine area, that immense 
Mesopotamia between the Orinoco and Amazon would have favored a 
development of their industry, animated their commerce, and acceler¬ 
ated the progress of social order.” d It is needless to repeat what has 
been said concerning those peoples or that country. Briefly, aborigines 
here resided in a region whose spontaneous food products only suf¬ 
ficed to keep up an oscillating balance between retrogression and such 
initiatory improvements as inherent faculty developed, while nothing 
intervened that would violently disturb an uncertain equipoise. Shocks 
did occur and entailed disastrous consequences. They had no artificial 
basis for support, therefore could neither prosecute further advances 
nor fully recover from the effects of misfortune. Their participation 
in Andean cultivation was impossible. No Arawakan or Cariban group 
got beyond savagery through its own efforts. The last strenuously 


a Historia del Mondo Nuovo, p. 55. Venice, 1666. 

^The Spanish Conquest in America, p. 201. London, 1900. 
c Prehistoric America. London, 1885. 
d Travels, Vol. V, p. 499. London, 1825. 



NATIVE EACES. 


49 


opposed existing means for bettering themselves during several centu¬ 
ries. These enterprising and unwearied conquerors—polygamous and 
practicing marriage by capture—intermixed on all sides, and every¬ 
where the Carib blood was prepotent. 

Taking populations as distributed throughout river valleys, and 
whose environments did not present essential differences, we find that 
while minor inequalities of condition are easily observable, there is 
a general uniformity in social state which might have been expected 
under those circumstances above stated. Indians speaking three lan¬ 
guages—Idapiminare, Maquiriban, Catarapenno, all alike in outward 
appearance, common destitution, an absurd travesty of civilized modes 
of Christian observances, gather round the Orinoco’s sources. Broken 
tribes, linguistically Otomac, occupy lands adjacent to the Apure’s, 
Maypure’s, and Tumanaos confluence and along the Upper Rio Negro. 
All those communities once had missions or Government posts estab¬ 
lished among them, but were unable to retain anything valuable they 
were taught and still less competent to use what was communicated as 
a starting point for future progress. The societies referred to have not 
only lost distinctive traces of their primordial Mongoloid and Palaeo¬ 
lithic European parent races in process of becoming Americanized, but 
blended family traits, through successive intermixtures, until no indi¬ 
viduality remains. Having in great measure reverted to primitive 
habits, which ostensibly reclaimed savages merely accepted tempora¬ 
rily through imitation or under coercion, both classes of aborigines, 
those invested with reason by baptism, and u brute Indians,” barely 
manage to live miserably and are surely becoming extinct. They 
only cultivate a little cassava, says Humboldt, and when fish fail semi¬ 
starvation or actual famine comes upon them. Those forest-clad 
slopes about Esmeralda, the Great Cataract, and wherever in this area 
Sierra Parima foothills sink into widespread savannas, harbor game 
that is too small, besides being very thinl y scattered over large spaces, 
for hunting as the sole means of procuring flesh food to furnish an 
adequate supply. Hence these natives eat nearly everything with 
blood in it, whether white or red, larvae, worms, fresli-water tnollus- 
cans, arthropods, vermin, reptiles, besides birds and land animals of 
all kinds. They are poor hunters or even trappers, retying mainly on 
blowguns—weapons whose common use always accompanies a pro¬ 
nounced inferiority as sportsmen and warriors. The diminutive Sar- 
bacan arrows must be poisoned to render them effective, and this 
device gives an unfailing sign of low grade among peoples by whom 
it is employed either in war or venery. A lliana (bejuco de Mava- 
cura), one of the Strychnos varieties, yields an active principle 
(wourali) that when inocidated causes sudden death. Its virulence 
excites untutored minds to fanciful creations. Uncurbed imagination 
always invests anything mysterious or deadly with supernatural 

4a—04-4 



50 


VENEZUELA. 


powers. This poison itself and the methods for extracting or making 
it more destructive have originated a cycle of folk tales, myths, 
semireligious rites, and ceremonies. Much that is done during prepa¬ 
ration, especially additions made to the concoction by way of increas¬ 
ing its activity, produces no effect whatever. Ritualistic practices 
persist, however, and early writers, lay or clerical, being devoutly intol¬ 
erant toward Indian superstitions, anathematize these beastly mix¬ 
tures,' 1 as Father Jose de Oviedo calls them (Historia General y Natural 
de las Indias). So also Padres Ruiz, Gomara, Herrera, With Cieza de 
Leon, etc., most of the writers giving lists containing articles intro¬ 
duced on purely fetichistic grounds. In this northwestern section, 
Manuel Llorente Vasquez refers to several entirely unrelated com- 
munties living around the Gulf of Maracaibo, some bands inhabiting 
lacustrine villages, whose peculiar construction suggested that name, 
which finally fastened itself upon the whole country—Venezuela, little 
Venice. Lakes Valencia, Zulia, Lagunata, Camaguan, etc., are encircled 
by alien tribes, who mainly depend upon fish, waterfowl, bird’s eggs, 
with a few insignificant quadrupeds, for animal food. Not much is 
known about these dispersed and isolated societies. They most likely 
represent completely hybridized fragments of formerly considerable 
aggregates who broke up under circumstances that have left no trace 
behind. Both family peculiarities and ethnic traits possessing any 
classificatory value were eliminated by their subjection to changeful 
conditions. Like many tribes seated along the Caura, Apure, Orichima, 
Guaipiri, and other rivers—for example, Kamurikas, Quiri Quiripas, 
Guaranos, Arebatos, Mopayos, Yaruros, and Ariguas—physical char¬ 
acteristics germain to entirely different human types are blended 
among these peoples. Sometimes, however, there is a marked rever¬ 
sion toward one of the primordial stocks, as evinced among Guag- 
nuagomos, whose proto-European resemblances disclose themselves in 
their large stature, clear-cut eyes, relatively straight faces, horizontal 
e 3 T es, straggling beards, and subdolichoeephalism. But usually a 
Guarauno ensemble belongs to all, namely, rather pleasing features, 
undersized though symmetrical and well filled-out bodies, muscular 
limbs, small hands, short, broad feet, with smooth, reddish-brown 
skins—“ cuivre fonce,” says Chaffanjou. Furthermore, cranial con¬ 
tours verge upon brachycephalism; the hair is black; their teeth are 
strong, white, and good, and they have short and wide noses, not 
flattened, yet slightly retrousse. 

Economic disparities, differences in temperament, appliances, habits 
of life, mental qualities, appear among those native groups indicated, 
although none have really emerged from savagery. A majority are mild 
and inoffensive beings; but some Meta orCapauopaco Indians have been 
pirates immemorially. From the Orinoco delta to where that river its 
Essequibo confluent, Guarano bands live in variously developed states, 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



MILLENNIAL ENGRAVED STONE, CAICARA. 




NATIVE RACES. 


51 


as nomadic, seminomadic, sedentary communities, going almost naked 
or wearing comfortable, becomingly arranged apparel; possessing a 
plentiful store of household utensils, personal ornaments, fishing and 
hunting implements, or showing an extreme destitution in everything 
that could ameliorate their wretched condition. Certain natives 
(Atures, Panares) subsist altogether upon natural products, plant 
nothing and construct no better dwelling places than flimsy .straw- 
thatched sheds. Pisaroas inhabit substantial homes standing on plains 
intersected with streams, while woodland Maquiritares dwell at small 
villages composed of solidty made cylindro-conical, palisaded, plas¬ 
tered, roomy huts, divided into separate chambers and provided with 
the requisites for primitive existence upon its highest plane. They 
cultivate maize and mandioca, cure fish and flesh; gather, prepare, 
store provisions against frequently recurring periods of want, but 
never protect themselves sufficiently to avoid the nearly direct action 
that natural selection exerts over unadapted men. 

On more distant northern or southern reaches of those water 
courses feeding the Orinoco, as likewise skirting their innumerable 
tributaries, there are many dislocated, probably creolized and retro¬ 
gressive subgroups, whose-remote position has screened them from 
observation. We know some tribal names, but scarcely anything 
more. Desire Pector specifies these unexplored districts, adding that 
numerous fluvial tracts now remain nearly uninhabited. As this is 
not the case with localities more difficult to live in, and since inaccessi¬ 
ble situations, with a resolute avoidance of strangers (like Quiriscanos 
or Quivas displayed) measurably protected them against massacre, 
contagious disease, destructive oppression, and imported vices; it 
seems likely that this depopulation was brought about through purely 
natural causes—an inability shown by numerous American peoples to 
make adaptations with surroundings which would prevent inevitable 
degeneration and death. Passivitv alwavs means ultimate extinction, 
except in those rare instances where nature supplies everything 
essential. 

Papiaros, Bamias, and Yaruros, on the middle Orinoco, have been 
assigned to a Maipure family (Ehrenrich); but whether any sufficient 
proof of such an affiliated aggregates existence can be given, is doubt¬ 
ful, seeing how variously this name has been applied. Besides these 
Indians, immigrants settled here. Extra-Venezuelan Panos as R. de 
la Grassarie asserts ; a Otomacos, with Muyscas, Miranhas, and certain 
intruders who are probably more Gessan than anything else. Eth¬ 
nologists generally agree that those scores of tribes seated in this 
great basin represent a variable mixture from Cariban and Arawakan 
sources. Possibly there may be bands whose blood is nearly pure on 
one side or the other; if that ever happens, however, such exceptional 


«Cong. Internat. Americanistes. Berlin, 1888. 



52 


VENEZUELA. 


peoples are indistinguishable among strains so inextricably entangled. 
Vayamaras, Arccunas, Chaimas have had the reputation of being 
u unadulterated Caribs’' (Crevaux). As for thoroughbred Arawaks 
few remain, and their very name has become extinct in a coun- 
try which, according to current opinion, was once largely popu¬ 
lated by these Indians. Its present natives, that is to say, groups 
formed exclusively of men unmixed with European or African ele¬ 
ments, are much diversified throughout this region, and exhibit 
similar corporeal, psychic, and social contrasts to those pointed out 
among communities farther west. Cumanacoto, Pariacoto, etc., can 
neither be classified as members of known stocks, nor is an} 7 genea¬ 
logical inference from tribal designations possible, when like such 
titles they simply indicate particular habitats. Occasionally, also, 
almost complete wastes lie within the territory reviewed. As was 
previously said, hardly a trace of human occupation shows itself in a 
thousand square leagues bounded by the Orinoco, Cassiquare, Atabapo, 
and Itio Negro. If an aboriginal Tamanac race once spread over those 
far-stretching lowlands belonging to this whole mighty fiuviatile 
basin, whither have its descendants gone? Who among the peoples 
sparingly scattered upon that immense expanse may be assigned to a 
group once so important? Certainly, offshoots from some widely dis¬ 
persed indigenous aggregate once built cyclopean (not uniformly 
megalithic) dwellings here; rose far enough above that apathy and 
inertness characterizing modern Indians to cut vivid impressions of 
the outward world upon hard porphyritic rocks; realized a future 
life with an intensity which sustained them under prolonged exertion: 
witness such ideas manifested by massive tumuli covering stone 
grave-cysts; or expectations of resurrection evinced in modes of cave 
sepulture. 

That is a very different thing from putting bones of dead companions 
into baskets, hanging them up to decay quickly in the open air, or 
interring bodies with like results; customs followed by several inde¬ 
pendent, unconnected communities, who live on Ventuare and Guaviare 
river bottoms, where problematical Maipures are said to have been 
formerly dominant as a many branched family. Perhaps no instances 
of what Deniker terms “ Ethnic groups 71(7 are discoverable in the mid¬ 
dle Orinoco Valley. Long or short heads and mesaticepalous contours 
occur together among populations recognized as consanguine; so that 
these anatomical trails lose whatever classiticatory value they possess 
when restricted to separate aggregates. An assurance of his own 
unavoidable ignorance should prevent any properly prepared writer 
from dogmatizing upon questions concerning Venezuelan ethnology 
which constantly arise, or indulging a tendency toward unwarrant¬ 
able generalization, whose results must be regretfully recognized 


a Races of Men. ' London, 1901 







NATIVE RACES. 


53 


among those conflicting opinions pervading its literatuer. Never¬ 
theless the subject is not a blank, and if facts (seemingly authen¬ 
tic) teach anything about indigenous societies who inhabited that area 
mentioned during historical periods, they enforce the corelation between 
their physical incongruities and such temperamental, intellectual, or 
economic dissimilarities as within savage states distinguish these peo¬ 
ples. Waiving inquiries as to how certain tribes apparently attained 
all they could accomplish and conversely did nothing making for 
progress or in mitigation of annihilating processes by measurably con¬ 
trolled neighboring communities, it suffices to present native societies 
at a time when foreign interference had not obliterated many distinc¬ 
tive features. Spanish chroniclers agree that forest Indians here and 
highlanders succeeded better than plain dwellers. Instances have 
already been given of both classes who lived comparatively comfort- 
ably through spontaneous efforts. But Otomacs, linos, Panares, 
Mapoyos, Atures neither did nor could do more than live from 
hand to mouth, the while experiencing a disproportionately heavy 
death rate. Yet this menace passed unheeded by men incapable of 
seeing anything portentous which was not at the same time strikingly 
mysterious and suddenly destructive. As opportunities for bettering 
themselves remained unseen, so incitements prompting others to action 
found no response from them. They were not threatened with imme¬ 
diate dissolution, and nothing less than that would have moved these 
ineffectual savages. 


Wild roots, tubers, seeds, and fruits grew on savannas, alluvial tracts, 
and in forest opens; still, like uncultivated vegetable species generally, 
these were scattered, and a resident population soon exhausted natural 
supplies. The apio, capacho, yuca, iairene, maguey, or forms of 
another class—aguacates, chirimoyas, pineapples, plantains, with cocoa- 
nuts, palm products, lechocos, parchas, and misperos, etc.—had this 
grave distributive disadvantage attached to their presence. More¬ 
over, most spontaneous growths showed deficiencies among elements 
which normal nutrition requires, and edible plants could never be 
found gathered at one place. Therefore, human beings, whose physio- 
logical demands are uncompromising, either gradually declined from the 
vigor, fertility, strength, mentality acquired somewhere else, or, under 
exceptional conditions, temporarily stood still. Similar drawbacks 
beset animal foods in respect of quality and modes for procurement. 
Venezuela was never a great game country. Turtles, fish, aquatic 
mammalia, change places and must be sought. Still more so is this 
the case with birds, while terrestrial forms, apart from that innutritive 
character which a majority of those species most commonly consumed 
displayed, were much dispersed and led hunters over wide expanses. 
All this not only made noncultivating man nomads, but, furthermore, 
insured scant} 7 or ineffectual feeding with their progeny of failures. 


54 


VENEZUELA. 


These aborigines got little first-class fiesh, and as a rule they probably 
expended an amount of tissue or energy in pursuit which balanced 
any benefits following’ its capture. 

Every step onward from pure savagery implies an increased quan¬ 
tity of stored grain (Payne), together with more and more thoroughly 
organized labor. Yet these Indians, some among whom cultivated 
maize, mandioca, and potatoes to a small extent, never provided them¬ 
selves against such frequently repeated periods of scarcity as primitive 
societies are certain to encounter. Except making clearings, and even 
this not consistently, women did all the work, while men hunted, fished, 
or fought. They went so far behindhand in appeasing those cravings 
which constitutional want inspires that innutrition expressed itself 
through morbid and unnatural appetites. The splendid Orinoco 
Valle}" held more earth-eating and cannibal tribes than any other con¬ 
tinuous territory of America. Hunger produced both practices. An 
inanition that continued through generations made intemperance uni¬ 
versal and, when natives learned how to distill rum, gave rise to the 
most disastrous excesses. Before that period, however, drunkenness, 
say early explorers or missionary priests, held Venezuelan lowlanders 
with the gripe of a passion. Wherever materials for manufacturing 
fermented liquors abounded, indigenes drank deep and constantly. a 
Every lethal agent was used inordinately—niopo pods, tobacco, 
snuffed, smoked, and swallowed (Padre Gili), with certain “ black 
drinks’' analvsts merely allude to. They had no tonics; stimulants 
killed them; but savages knew of nothing else which would relieve 
the languor, abiding sadness, and sense of failure that poorly nour¬ 
ished bodies bring upon unfortunate human beings. Their whole 
environment—inorganic, organic, and superorganic, all they did or 
left undone—tended toward retrogression, decrepitude, and death. 

There are no unmixed Americans on the llanos. Quite probably 
those immense champaigns never contained permanent populations, 
but several tribes occupied Orinoco delta lands. Humboldt and Bon- 
plan give Guaycas, Caribs, and Guayanos for the principal aggregates, 
though this last group has branches in neighboring highlands and per¬ 
haps all three societies represented once widely diffused stocks, as 
Caribans undoubtedly did. Here live Guaranos (Worrows) likewise, 
hybridized beyond recognition from positive family resemblances; yet, 
taking their extra-Venezuelan source into consideration, and some 
modified yet still surviving traits of paleolithic man, these Indians 
have been sometimes assigned to “that most ancient Botocudo type,” 


«Fray Jacinto de Carvajal (Relacions del Descubrimiento del Rio Apure) gives a 
long list of fruits sweet enough to be fermented. So also Father Gonvara (Historia 
General de las Indias), Padra Luiz (Conquistata espiritual), Jose Oviedo in his 
“Sumario, Manuel Vazquez” (Cuadros Americanos), and many others, who leave 
an impression that Venezuelan Indians were preeminently intemperate among South 
American families, all more or less given to excessive drinking. 






NATIVE RACES. 


55 


as Alfred Deberle calls it," whose physical characteristics ally them 
with Brazilian Gessans. This classification has been flatly contradicted, 
like most genealogical statements, but at all events they partially 
preserve the same modes of life here which their Guiana cognates 
adopted involuntarily. 1 n either country, partially submerged morasses 
protected fugitive bands against enemies with whom it was hopeless 
to contend. Clusters of wattle-and daub huts built on platforms sup¬ 
ported by piles made up villages hidden within vast, inaccessible 
swamps. Apparently, such surroundings must necessarily have 
placed human existence in its lowest grade; wanting everything acces¬ 
sory to health or prosperity, it would seem that beings almost wholly 
subjected by the environment could have found no more unprom¬ 
ising station. Part of this population was arboreal. Something 
closely resembling mankind’s most primitive form of association must 
have prevailed, since it is questionable whether any family group 
became organized under such circumstances (Starcke). 6 These miser¬ 
able creatures were not able to come down from trees and mingle 
amidst encircling forests, like certain degraded Australasian Nigritoes 
similarly situated. Their hammocks hung upon Mauritia palms, which 
supplied “food and wine” (Humboldt); water or mud lay beneath; 
active life mainly passed in dugouts or on reed floats, carrying solitary 
savages who prosecuted one absorbing search for anything alive it was 
possible to eat. All this delta territory was not marsh land, however, 
and these same Worrows, with other aborigines, inhabited better local¬ 
ities. Furthermore, Father Jose GumilkP refers to Caverre Indians 
as “more inhuman, bloodthirsty, and cruel than Caribs.” No light 
could l>e thrown upon Venezuelan natives by repeating tribal designa¬ 
tions taken from old Spanish records, or other so-called “nations” 
might find place among those already specified, because something, at 
least, is known about them. Otherwise, such cataloguing seems noth¬ 
ing beyond a mere pretense at completeness. Without exception, 
indigenes of this country were in a savage state. That is not an expres¬ 
sion which has no definite or fixed meaning, but one whose salient and 
unvarying features have been scientifically determined. There was 
an important difference in condition between men like those inhabiting 
quagmires near the Orinoco’s mouth and people possessing compara¬ 
tively well-constructed dwellings adjoining cultivated fields, but 
psychologically fundamental likenesses put both into one class. There 
was a range of faculty as expressed by special arts; no radical dissim¬ 
ilarity in that evolutional phase which impressed everything accom¬ 
plished with its essential character. These natives had done what 
they could, when strangers whose own nobler race required millen- 


a Histoire FAmerique du Sud. Paris, 1897. 

/'The Primitive Family. Iss. 1878. 

e Historia Natural de las naciones del Rio Orinoco. Madrid, 1791. 






56 


VENEZUELA. 


mums to develop a civilization did their utmost with dogmas and 
mechanical devices toward effecting this end instantaneously. We know 
how the attempted transformation terminated, either spiritually or 
economically. South American improvements have not been prose¬ 
cuted by Indians. Christianity never became self-propagating among 
pure indigenes. 

From Canada to Patagonia the “relations” of missionary priests 
attributed ill-success to any cause but their attempt at achieving an 
impossibility. So manifold were ultimate failures that men who had 
no conception of the organic indeterminateness of a savage’s mind, its 
evasive impressions, impotence in presence of abstractions, and inca¬ 
pability to receive anything not recast in his own image, believed 
devils thwarted them continuallv, and saw machinations of infernal 
spirits on every side. Humboldt mildly says that those methods 
adopted by “apostolic conquerors” were premature. At all events 
Ramon Lopez Borroquero" only echoes what many eminent evangel¬ 
ists have sadly confessed, namely, the superficial and evanescent effects 
which instruction produced. Father Dobritizhofer (An Account of the 
Abiponas) describing a general break-up among Paraguayan stations 
no longer able to forcibly control Indian proselytes, says: 44 In a 
moment they were gone.” Pere Lalement, lamenting over an unlaw¬ 
ful supply of French brandy procured by Canadian Algonkians, writes 
this: 44 We lose in one month the fruits of our toil and labor during 
thirty years.” It matters little what proximate causes inducing reac¬ 
tion may have appeared, since one or another was inevitable. These 
devoted idealists failed because unevolved humanity invincibly resists 
such alterations as the scheme acted upon sought to bring about. 
They endeavored to rear an edifice for whose support no foundation 
could be laid. 

Similarly with land tenure and the social structure to which it gives 
rise, religion here assumed its crudest form. Animistic magic was 
Venezuela's sole systematic cult, and there is nothing lower. Beneath 
lies an inane where no clearly defined objects of human adoration are 
recognizable—only vague indistinct spectra everywhere, begotten by 
fear and longing. Those savages never went through processes of 
compounding and recompounding to finally blend malign fetish-genii 
and mischievous spirits in rocks, trees, or rivers into beneficent 
deities. An} 7 appreciation of nature’s constants lay far beyond them, 
so that there were no greater gods; and as M. Sylvain Levi 5 said, 
concerning a somewhat higher though strictly analogous faith (ethics 
did not enter it at all; without being immoral, religion was unmoral): 
44 Sacrifice, which regulates the relation of man to divinities, through 
a mechanical act operating by its own spontaneous energy (par son 


«Indios Caribes. Madrid, 1876. 

6 Doctrine du sacrifice chez les Brahmrnes. Paris, 1898. 







NATIVE RACES. 57 

ernergy intime), and that, hidden in the bosom of nature, is only 
brought by the priests’ magic art. 11 

Other sociological elements were correspondingly organized. Most 
communities being seminomadic, and at best but nonchalant, inef¬ 
fectual agriculturists, they .scattered to avoid starvation, thereby 
rendering themselves incompetent for those developments which are 
alone possible when men can form large congregations. As conse¬ 
quences of isolation, the rudimentary communism existing in dispersed 
bands could not be evolved into systems incorporating customary law, 
or regulating external relations spontaneously originated among pueblo 
populations, where associated gentes necessarity define mutual claims 
and establish some formal polic}^ toward their neighbors. Under such 
circumstances native Venezuelans must needs have been savages, and 
when, in an age where eA r ery na_ on seemed almost incomprehensively 
blind to an}^ perception of indefeasible human rights, came a devas¬ 
tating foreign conquest, nothing else than that which actually befell 
lay within limits of possibility. 


TXDEX TO CHAPTER T. 




Page. 

Geographical sketch. 7 

Geographical position of Venezuela. 7 

Boundaries. 7 

Boundary with Brazil. 7 

Boundary with British Guiana.1. 7 

Award settling British Guiana boundary. 7 

Boundary with Colombia. 9 

Award establishing boundary with Colombia. 9 

Coast. 10 

Islands. 10 

Island of Margarita. 10 

Rivers. 10 

Gulfs. 11 

Lakes. 11 

Principal lakes. 11 

Important geographical data. 11 

Area. 11 

Total area._•. 11 

Perimetric extension of area. 12 

Area of zones. 12 

Area of hydrographical basins. 12 

Population. 12 

Population in 1810. 12 

Population from 1810 to 1857.-. 12 

Population from 1857 to 1873 (no general census taken). 13 

Population in 1873 (first census). 13 

Population in 1881 (second census). 13 

Population of foreigners in 1881. 14 

Population in 1886 (Bureau of Statistics). 14 

Population in 1891 (third census). 14 

Population in 1894 (estimated). 14 

Population of foreigners in 1894. r . 14 

Population from 1895 to 1898 (table). 14 

Population from 1810 to 1904 (table) . 14 

Population of Indians in 1839 and 1890 . 15 

Population and area of Venezuela in 1903 compared with those of Euro¬ 
pean countries. 15 

Population and area of Venezuela compared with American Republics_ 15 

Topography. 16 

Climatology. 16 

Cold lands. 16 

Temperate lands. 16 

58 











































INDEX TO CHAPTER I. 


59 


Climatology—Continued. 

Hot lands. 

Seasons. 

Prevailing winds. 

Temperature of principal cities. 

Orography. 

First mountain range.*. 

Second mountain range.. 

Plains or llanos. 

Third mountain range. 

Height of principal peaks (table). 

Meteorology. 

Rainfall (table). 

Hydrography. 

Maritime hydrography . .... 

Temperature of the sea. 

Continental hydrography.. 

Hydrographical regions of Venezuela (table). 

Orinoco hydrographical region. 

Orinoco delta—length, depth, bars, and tide of channels (table) 

A pure River.. 

Guaviare River. 

Meta River... 

Caron \ River. 

Area of Orinoco hydrographical basin. 

Rfo Negro hydrographical basin. 

Cuyuni hydrographical basin.. 

Cariaco hydrographical basin. 

Paria hydrographical basin. 

Coast hydrographical basin. 

Valencia Lake hydrographical basin. 

Maracaibo hydrographical basin. 

Rivers of the first, second, and third class (table). 

Hydrographical temperatures (tables). 

Flora.. 

Characteristic forms of vegetation. 

Flora of the plains . 

Flora of th'e forests... 

Flora of Guavana. 

Flora of Maturin. 

Flora of the hot region. 

Flora of the temperate region. 

Flora of the cold region. 

Fauna. 

Zoologic region. 

General character of the fauna. 

Mammalia. 

Rodents... 

Carnivorous. 

Pachiderms. 

Cetacea. 

Marsupialia. 

Edentate. 

Birds. 


Page. 

16 

16 

17 

17 

17 

17 

18 
18 
19 
19 
19 


19 

20 
20 
21 
21 
21 
21 
.21 
22 
22 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 

23 

OQ 

LiO 

24 
24 

24 

25 

26 
26 
26 
26 
27 
27 

27 

28 


28 

28 

28 

28 

29 

29 

29 

29 

29 

30 
30 
3,0 























































GO * VENEZUELA. 

Fauna—Continued. Page. 

Fishes. 31 

Reptiles. 31 

Mollusks. 31 

Insects .1 . 31 

Ethnography. 31 

Ethnogenic group. 31 

Heroic casiques. 32 

Regions inhabited by aborigines. 32 

Native races. By Dr. J. Hampden Porter.33-57 












CHAPTER II. 


GOVERNMENT—CONSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION—CITIZENSHIP, 
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF FOREIGNERS—GUARANTIES—LAWS, 
CIVIL, CRIMINAL, AND COMMERCIAL—RELIGION. 


GOVERNMENT UNDER SPAIN. 

Rule of the Spanish Crown. —Twelve years after the discovery of 
Venezuela by Columbus, in 1510, the Spaniards established the first 
village on the island of Cubagua. The city of Cumana was settled in 
1520, a Asuncion (on the island of Margarita) in 1525, and La Vela 
(Coro) in 1527. Spain waged war with the Venezuelan aborigines for 
a period of forty years, from 1527 to 1567. When the great cacique 
(Indian chief) Guaicaipuro was killed, 21 of the most powerful chiefs 
of Indian tribes offered their submission. They were court-martialed 
and put to death. Thenceforward the Spaniards asserted their author¬ 
ity over the country. 

For two hundred and thirty-nine years Venezuela remained loyal as 
a Spanish colony, from 1567 to 1806. In the latter year General 
Miranda landed at Coro at the head of a force of patriots and raised 
the standard of revolt against Spain, but after many sanguinary engage¬ 
ments the} r were defeated and dispersed. 


INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN. 


Declaration of independence. —It was in Caracas, on the 5th of July, 
1811, that the Republic was proclaimed . b For ten years a sanguinary 
war was waged between the patriots and the mother country, until 
the liberator, Simon Bolivar, at the head of the patriot force, encoun¬ 
tered, on June 25, 1821, on the plains of Carabobo, the Spanish army 
and overwhelming^ defeated it. The decisive victory sealed the inde¬ 
pendence of Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador and permitted Bolivar 
to later liberate Peru and to found the Republic of Bolivia, which is 
so called in his honor. 


SEPARATION FROM GREATER COLOMBIA. 

The first movement of separation of Venezuela from Greater Colom¬ 
bia was effected on May 6, 1830 (the first constitution was sanctioned 


«The oldest city on the American continent. 

& See act of independence, p. 555-559. 

61 




VENEZUELA. 


62 


September 22, 1830), and Bolivar’s death, which occurred on Decem¬ 
ber 13 of said year, decided the separation. The first constitutional 
Congress met in April, 1836. 

Acknowledgment of independence.—Venezuela acknowledged the 
Republics of New Granada and Ecuador on April 9 and 29, 1832. 
New Granada acknowledged Venezuela on December 14, 1833, and 
Spain formally acknowledged Venezuela, as an independent nation, 
on March 26, 1845. 

CONSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION. 


Constitutions sanctioned in Venezuela.—Since Venezuela became an 
independent nation several constitutions have been promulgated. This 
is due to the fact that according to a constitutional provision, when a 
law reforms another law, the new text must be given in full. The 
table below gives the date and year of promulgation of each consti¬ 
tution: 

Date and year of promulgation. 


September 22 . 1830 

April 18. 1857 

December 31. 1858 

April 22 . 1864 

May 27 . 1874 


April 27 . 1881 

June 21. 1893 

March 26 . 1901 

April 27 . 1904 


Present constitution.—The present national constitution of the United 
States of Venezuela was sanctioned on April 27, 1904. The form of 
government is according to the popular, elective, federal, representa¬ 
tive, alternative, and responsible principles. 

Constitutions of the States.—Each of the thirteen States composing 
the Federal Union of Venezuela has its own constitution, based upon 
the same principles and modeled after the national constitution. 

National constitution.—The national constitution provides for a 
separate but correlative existence of the three powers forming the 
Federal Government and those of the States of the Union, the consti¬ 
tutions of the various States being based upon the same republican 
representative federal system in accordance with the principles, decla¬ 
rations, and guaranties of the national constitution. Thus the States 
which form the Venezuelan federation are ruled by one and the same 
laws in regard to civil, criminal, fiscal, military, and educational mat¬ 
ters. Therefore, all public acts and judicial proceedings of one State 
have the full force of law and authority in the others. 

This legislation is issued by the National Congress, and not by any 
State in particular. 

Powers.—The three powers to which the Government is intrusted 
are the legislative, the federal executive, and the judiciary. 












CONSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION. 


63 


LEGISLATIVE POWER. 


All legislative power is vested in a Congress, which consists of a 
Senate and a House of Representatives, the latter called Chamber of 
Deputies. 

House of Representatives (Deputies). —The House of Deputies in 
Venezuela is composed of members chosen by direct vote, in accord¬ 
ance with the electoral law. According to the census law in force, 
each State elects one deputy and one alternate to till vacancies for 
every 40,000 inhabitants, and another for a surplus of 20,000. A 
State not having the latter population elects, nevertheless, one deputy 
and one alternate. Deputies must not be less than 21 years of age and 
Venezuelans by birth. The federal district elects its deputies and 
alternates in the manner prescribed for the States, and the Federal 
Territories having the required number of inhabitants do likewise. 
Unsubdued aborigines are not computed as forming a basis of popula¬ 
tion. Deputies are appointed for a period of six years. (Const., 
arts. 31-33.) 

Senate. —The Senate of Venezuela is composed of two Senators from 
each State, chosen by the legislature thereof for six years. Senators 
must be natural-born citizens of Venezuela and not less than 30 years 
of age. (Const., arts. 35-36.) 

Meeting of Congress.— Congress assembles regularly, without con¬ 
vocation, every two years in the capital of the Union, on May 23 or the 
immediate day following, and the session lasts ninety days without 
prorogation. (Const., art. 38.) 

Organization of Congress.— A majority of two-thirds the number of 
members of each house is necessary to open the sittings in either house, 
which hold them separately and they assemble in Congress when so 
determined by law or at the request of either house. Sittings may be 
public or secret. Congress is presided over by the president of the 
Senate, the president of the House of Representatives acting as Vice- 
President. (Const., arts. 38-51.) 

Power vested in Congress. —Congress has power: 

1. To take cognizance of the resignations of the President and Vice- 
Presidents of the Republic. 

2. To examine, approve, or disapprove accounts according to 
article 86. 

3. To enact the organic and electoral laws of the Federal District 
and Federal Territories. 

4. To raise Federal Territories to States when so asked, provided the 
conditions of article 4 be complied with. 

5. To lay and collect the national taxes. 

6. To sanction national codes and laws organizing the national 
militia. 


64 


VENEZUELA. 


7. To fix the standard, value, fineness, weight, and coinage of 
national money, based on the gold standard, and decide on the admis¬ 
sion and circulation of foreign currency. 

8. To create, abolish, and fix salaries of national offices. 

9. To determine regarding the national debt and its interest. 

10. To make loans on the credit of Venezuela. 

11. To decree the taking of a census every ten years and the com- 
pilation of statistics. 

12. To approve or disapprove diplomatic treaties and conventions 
according to law. 

13. To approve or disapprove contracts of national interest con¬ 
cluded by the Federal executive. 

14. To sanction the general budget. 

15. To fix and make uniform the national weight^ and measures. 

16. To enact all laws for carrying into execution the powers vested 
in the Federal powers. 

17. To elect the electoral body, as provided by article 70. 

18. To elect the Supreme Federal Court (Coi'te Federal y de ('asa- 
cwn), as provided by articles 91 to 93. (Const., art. 52.) 

Acts of Congress.—The acts sanctioned by either of the legislative 
chambers, passed separately, are called laws (leyes), and those in 
Congress assembled, or separately on matters exclusively vested on 
each chamber, are called resolutions (acuerdos). (Const., art. 53.) 

Power vested in the House of Representatives (Deputies).—The House 
of Deputies has power: 

1. To issue a vote of censure against any cabinet minister, and it 
has the effect of vacating the position. 

2. To appoint the attorney-general (procurador general de la nacion) 
and two alternates. 

3. The others that the law may provide. (Const., art. 34.) 

Power vested in the Senate.—The Senate has power: 

1. To grant to distinguished Venezuelans the honor of having their 
mortal remains deposited in the National Pantheon. 

2. To give or withhold its consent to national functionaries for 
admitting gifts, commissions, honors, and rewards from foreign 
countries. 

3. The others that the law may provide. (Const., art. 37.) 

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE POWER. 

The Federal executive power is vested in the President of the United 
States of Venezuela, together with the cabinet ministers who are his 
representatives. (Const., art. 68.) 

Qualifications of the President.—No person except a natural-born 
citizen of Venezuela who has attained the age of 30 years is eligible 
to the office of President. (Const., art. 73.) 


CONST1TU TIONAL ORGA NIZ ATION. 


65 


Presidential term of office.—The President holds his office during' 
a term of six years and can not be reelected for the term immediately 
following that which he presides. (Const., arts. 132 and TT.) 

Oath.—Prior to entering on the execution of his office the President 
must make oath before Congress. (Const., art. 73, § 1.) 

Provision of disability.—In case of temporal or absolute inability 
on the part of the President to discharge his powers and duties, the 
same shall devolve in the following order on the First Vice-President 
and Second Vice-President. When the latter takes charge, due to 
absolute disability of the President and First Vice-President, or when 
the disability occurs during the time he is in charge of the presidency, 
he shall convoke immediately the Senate to elect the person who shall 
replace him. (Const., art. 74.) 

Powers vested in the President.—The powers originally and especially 
vested in the President of the United States of Venezuela are as 
follows: 

1. To appoint and remove from office the cabinet ministers. 

2. To receive and welcome diplomatic representatives of other 
nations. 

3. To sign the official letters addressed to sovereigns or chief mag- 
istrates of other countries. 

4. To exercise superior civil and political authority, through a gov¬ 
ernor, in the Federal District. 

5. To administer the Federal Territories according to law. 

6. To conduct war personally or appoint who shall do it. 

7. To leave temporarily the capital of the Republic on matters of 
public interest. (Const., art. 75.) 

Proceedings of election.—The electoral body consists of 14 members 
of the National Congress, composed of one representative, either sen¬ 
ator or deputy, for each State, and one additional deputy for the Fed¬ 
eral District. The electoral body, as soon as it is organized, elects the 
President from their number or outside of it. At least two-thirds of 
their members must he present, and the person who obtains absolute 
majority of votes is proclaimed President of the United States of 
Venezuela. The First and Second Vice-Presidents are elected by the 
same body, with the same formalities, in the same session of the elec- 
toral body. (Const., arts. 70-72.) 

Powers vested in the Federal Executive.—The Federal Executive has 
power: 

1. To direct the enforcement of the constitution and the laws. 

2. To issue decrees or rules for the better enforcement of the laws. 

3. To convoke Congress to extraordinary session. 

4. To organize the army and militia. 

5. To preserve the‘nation from all attack. 

4 a— 04 - 5 



66 


VENEZUELA. 


6. To declare war. 

7. To defend the Federal District. 

8. To ask the States to help to defend the nation and its institutions; 
to collect taxes before they are due; to make effective on national and 
foreign citizens the right of expulsion; to suspend certain rights; to 
appoint the place where the general powers may be located when 
grievous motives so demand it; to initiate the trials for treason against 
Venezuelans, and to issue privateer patents. 

9. To make use of armed force to settle armed collision between 
two States of the Union. 

10. To direct the attorney-general to invalidate, any act violating 
the bases of the Union. 

11. To grant amnesties and indults. 

12. To negotiate loans. 

13. 1 o supervise the collection of the national revenue. 

14. lo manage public lands, mines, salt mines; tobacco and alcohol 
taxes, according to law. 

15. Io direct diplomatic negotiations and conclude treaties accord¬ 
ing to law. 

16. To enter into contracts of. national interest. 

17. To establish rules for the post, telegraph, and telephones of the 
Union. 

18. To direct the taking of the census. 

19. To issue navigation patents. 

20. To issue naturalization papers according to law. 

21. To allow or prohibit the admission of foreigners to the service 
of the Republic. 

22. To prohibit foreigners from entering or remaining in the coun¬ 
try, unless they have there their established domicile. 

23. To forbid foreigners especially devoted to the service of any 
worship or religion, no matter what their order oi hierarchy may be, 
from entering the territory of the Republic. 

24. To appoint national functionaries whose appointment does not 
depend upon another functionary. 

25. To remove from office certain employees, or have them sus¬ 
pended or impeached. 

26. 1 o carry into execution all the other functions vested by law. 
(Const., art. 80.) 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



BOLIVAR’S STATUE AND TOMB IN THE NATIONAL PANTHEON, CARACAS. 
(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 



























PRESIDENTS OF VENEZUELA. 


67 


Names of Presidents and Vice-Presidents of Venezuela and Presidential Periods from 1831 

to 1904. 


Constitutional Presidents. 


Gen. Jos6 Antonio P&ez. 

Dr. Jos6 M. Vargas (resigned). 

Gen. Jos6 Antonio P&ez. 

Gen. Carlos Soublette. 

Gen. Jos6 Tadeo Monagas. 

Gen. Jos6 Gregorio Monagas. 

Gen. Jos6 Tadeo Monagas (resigned) ... 

Manuel F. de Tovar (resigned). 

Gen. J.C. Falcon (provisional). 

Gen. J. C. Falcon (constitutional). 

Gen. A.Guzman Blanco (provisional)... 
Gen. A. Guzmftn Blanco (constitutional) 

Gen. F. Linares-Alcdntara (died).. 

Gen. A. Guzm&n Blanco (provisional).. 
Gen. A. Guzman Blanco (constitutional) 
Gen. A. Guzman Blanco (constitutional 
reform). 

Gen. Joaquin Crespo. 

Gen. A. Guzman Blanco (resigned). 

Dr. J. P. Rojas-Paul. 

Dr. R. Andueza Palaeio. 

Gen. Joaquin Crespo (provisional). 

Gen. Joaquin Crespo (constitutional)... 

Gen. Ignacio Andrade. 

Gen. Cipriano Castro (provisional). 

Gen. Cipriano Castro (constitutional) .. 
Gen. Cipriano Castro (provisional, nom. 
for 1905-1911). 

Do. 


Month. 

Day. 

Year. 

Vice-Presidents. 

March. 

26 

1831 

Dr. Diego B. Urbaneja. 

February... 

9 

1835 

Dr. Andres Narvarte. 

_do. 

10 

1839 

Santos Michelena, 

January.... 

28 

1843 

Dr. Diego B. Urbaneja. 

March. 

1 

1847 

Antonio L. Guzmitti. 

February... 

18 

1851 

Dr. Joaquin Herrera. 

January_ 

31 

1855 

Gen. J. Francisco Oriach. 

April. 

12 

1860 

Dr. Pedro Gual. 

June. 

15 

1863 

Gen. Antonio Guzman Blanco. 

March. 


1865 

Several designates acted. 

April. 

27 

1870 

Gen. Jose I. Pulido. 

.do. 

27 

1873 

Several designates acted. 

March. 

2 

1877 

Several ministers acted. 

February... 

25 

1879 

Dr. Diego B. Urbaneja. 

March. 

17 

1880 

Several ministers acted. 

_do. 

17 

1882 

The presidents of the Federal 
council. 

April. 

27 

1884 

The Federal council. 

March. 

27 

1886 

Dr. Manuel A. Diez and Gen. 
Hermogenes Lopez. 

July. 

5 

1888 

Federal council. 

March. 

7 

1890 

Do. 

October. 

10 

1892 

Ministers of the executive. 

March. 

5 

1894 

Government council. 

.do. 

1 

1898 

Do. 

October .... 


1900 

Council of ministers. 

.do. 


1901 

Gen. Juan V. G6mez. 

February... 

20 

1902 

Gen. Ramon Ayala. 

May. 

23 

1904 

Gen. Juan V. Gomez. 


Persons still living who have been chiefs of the executive power of Venezuela (1868 to 1904). a 

% 

Gen. Luis Rafael Caspers, Second Vice-President of the Republic from 1867 to 1868- 
Did not exercise the supreme power. 

Dr. Guillermo Tell Villegas, President of the plural Government of 1868 to 1869, 
Second Vice-President, acted as supreme magistrate on three occasions, from 
1869 to 1870, and on three occasions from 1890 to 1892, through the absence of 
President Andueza Palaeio. 

Gen. Jose Ignacio Pulido, discharged the office of President from 1870 to 1871. 

Dr. Laureano Villanueva, minister of the interior, exercised the executive power 
through the absence of General Alcantara, from June 2 to July 23, 1878. Through 
the illness of the same President he was again in charge of the executive for 
some days during the month of November, 1878. 

Gen. Eleazar Urdaneta, Second Vice-President, who exercised the power in January 
and part of February, 1879. 

Dr. Manuel Antonio Diaz, Federal counselor, from April 27 to September 14, 1886. 

Gen. Juan Tonnis Perez, Federal counselor, in charge of the Presidency from June 
21 to August 1, 1887. 

Dr. Juan Pablo Rojas Paul, Constitutional President from July 5, 1888, to March 19, 
1889. 

Dr. Guillermo Tell Villegas Pulido, Federal counselor, in charge of the executive 
from September 1 to October 6, 1892. 

Dr. Juan Pietri, minister of finance and public credit, in charge of the national 
executive during some days in January, 1893. 

Gen. Manuel Guzmdn Alvarez, Vice-President, in charge of the Presidency from 
October 6, 1893, to March 14, 1894. 

Gen. Ignacio Andrade, Constitutional President, who filled the office from February 
28, 1898, to October 20, 1899. 


« Manuel Landaeta Rosales. 



































































68 


VENEZUELA. 


Gen. Victor Rodriguez, president of the council of government, who exercised the 
presidency on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of September and the 20th, 21st, and 22d 
of October, 1899. 

Gen. Cipriano Castro, supreme chief of the Republic from October 23, 1899, to 
March 31, 1901. From that date to March 10, 1902, Provisional President, and 
since then Constitutional President. 

Gen. Juan Vicente Gomez, First Vice-President from March, 1901, to March 10, 1902, 
and since then Second Vice-President, having exercised the supreme power from 
July 5 to November 9, 1902. 

Gen. Ramon Ayala, Vice-President from March, 1901, to March 10, 1902, and since 
then First Vice-President; has never exercised the Presidency. 

# 

Cabinet ministers.—The President of Venezuela has the number of 
cabinet ministers which the law may prescribe. (Const., art. 81.) At 
present the cabinet is composed of the following departments: 

1. Minister for interior relations. 

2. Minister for foreign relations. 

3. Minister of finance and public credit. 

4. Minister of fomento (promotion). 

5. Minister of war and navy. 

6. Minister of public works. 

7. Minister of public instruction. 

8. The governor of the federal district is also a member of the 
cabinet. 

Qualifications.—No person except a natural-born citizen of Ven¬ 
ezuela, who has attained 25 years of age, is eligible for the position 
of cabinet minister. (Const., art. 82.) 

Duties.—All acts of the President of Venezuela shall be counter¬ 
signed by the respective minister. Without this requisite they lack 
all legal force. (Const., art. 83.) 

Responsibilities.—Ministers incur personal responsibility for the 
acts they countersign and have a right to be heard in both houses, 
where they may he summoned to inform regarding their respective 
departments. They are likewise amenable to law for high treason, 
for infraction of the constitution and laws, for exceeding budget 
expenses, for subornation, and embezzlement. (Const., arts. 84-88.) 

ORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENTS. 


These departments shall have, for the dispatch of their respective 
business, a secretary called director for each section and the necessary 
number of clerks. 

INTERIOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT. 

This department has the following two directions or sections. The 
political director becomes acting minister in the absence of the latter. 

Political direction.—Has the dispatch of the matters comprised 
under the following headings: Relations of the Federal Government 
with the States, public order, national police, national agents in the 


ORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENTS. 


69 


States, national elections, national congress, legislatures, national 
coat of arms, seal, and flag, constitutional and legal organization of the 
Republic, council of government, decorations and medals, naturalisa¬ 
tion of foreigners, national holidays, court of appeals and Federal 
court," annual compilation, promulgation and codification of laws, 
resolutions, and sentences, national pantheon. 

Administrative direction has the dispatch of the matters comprised 
under the following headings: General administration, legislation, civil 
marriage, public registry, charities, Federal territories, civilization of 
Indians, ecclesiastic patronate, general tiles, justice, navigation, relig¬ 
ion and public worship, official publications, budget of the department. 

FOREIGN RELATIONS DEPARTMENT. 

This department has the following directions: 

Direction of public international law.—This section has the dispatch 
of the following matters: Equality, independence, and sovereignty 
of the nation, dominion, territorial limits, territorial and maritime 
jurisdiction, fluvial right, acknowledment of belligerency, acknowledg¬ 
ment of independence, the drafting, enactment, interpretation, and 
denouncement of public treaties, diplomatic negotiations, diplomatic 
claims, right of legislation, immunity of sovereigns, armies and foreign 
men of war within the territory of the Republic, immunities, privileges, 
and duties of public ministers, documents relating to their capacity, 
their presentation and reception, diplomatic passports, departure of 
ministers, amicable arrangement of international questions, claiming 
uninhabited countries, retortion, refuge, extradition, shipwreck, and 
declaration of hostilities, hostility against persons and property of the 
enemy, exchange of prisoners of war, privateers, seizures, rights and 
obligations of natives, transit of belligerent forces through neutral 
lands and waters, right of postliminium, negotiations relative to the 
state of war. The director of this section becomes acting minister in 
the latter’s absence. 

Direction of private international law has the dispatch of the following 
matters: Principles on law of residence, expulsion, extraterritorial 
effects of laws, civil and criminal jurisdiction, extraterritorial value of 
judicial acts, rights and duties of resident and transient foreigners, prin¬ 
ciples on testamentary successions, organization, letters patent, exe¬ 
quators and their suspension, privileges, exemptions, duties of consuls 
and their jurisdiction, decorations and medals, budget of the department. 

FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT DEPARTMENT. 

This department has the following directions: 

Direction of custom-houses.—Has the dispatch of matters relating 
to custom-houses, import and export tariff, port officials, inspectors of 
finance, board of examiners, consular invoices and manifests, orders 
for exemption of duties. 


«Now one court, called Supreme Federal Court. 





70 


VENEZUELA. 


Direction of the treasury.—Dispatches everything relating to inland 
custom-houses, transit taxes and grants of the States, expenditure of 
treasure, sealed paper, currency, treasury, board of centralization, 
banks, and navigation patents. 

Direction of the budget.—Dispatches everything concerning the law 
of public income, and expenditure, payment of the personnel in the 
civil service, furniture and utensils in public offices, indications, claims 
for payment against the public service, payment of public printing, 
and rectifications of the budget. 


Direction of salt deposits or mines.—Has everything relating to these 
mines and the court of accounts, finance courts, and everything rela¬ 
tive to maritime smuggling and seizures. 

Direction of public property.—-Has everything relative to it and the 
distribution of official documents, decorations and medals, commercial 
statistics, and budget of the department. 

Direction of public credit.—Has charge of the direction of internal 
and external credit, to which correspond the external debt, the interior 
credit, the diplomatic debt, and everything concerning public debts in 
general. 


FOMENTO DEPARTMENT. 


This department lias the following directions: 

Direction of statistics and immigration.—Has charge of everything 
relative to general statistics, immigration, and public lands. 

Direction of public wealth, agriculture, and stock raising.—Has con¬ 
trol over everything relative to agriculture, mines, industries, com¬ 
merce, exemption of duties, redemption of censuses, decorations and 
medals, expositions, and budget of the department. 

Direction of posts and telegraphs.—Has charge of everything rela¬ 
tive to the universal postal union, postal packages, land, maritime, 
and fluvial posts, telegraphs and telephones, and cable lines. 


PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT. 

Has the following three directions: 

Direction of superior instruction.—Has charge of everything per¬ 
taining to universities, national and private colleges, fine arts and 
scientific expositions, academies, athemeums, museums, libraries, 
botanical and zoological gardens. 

Direction of fine arts.—Has charge of all matters related to that 
branch. 

Direction of statistics and accounts.—Has charge of the statistics 
of the schools of the Republic, administration of the public instruc¬ 
tion, rent and fiscals of public instruction. 

Direction *of primary popular instruction.—Has charge of all the 
primary schools, normal schools, school of arts and trades, inspector¬ 
ships, decorations and medals, budget of the departments. 


JUDICIAL POWER. 


71 


WAR AND NAVY DEPARTMENT. 

Has three directions: 

Direction of war.—Has charge of the organization, administration, 
direction, economy, discipline, service of the national public force, 
general inspection and organization of the staffs, propositions for 
military promotion, hospitals and ambulances, and military courts- 
martial. 

Direction of the navy.—Has charge of the personnel and materiel of 
the navy, arsenals and naval storehouses, nautical schools, naval 
militia, military trials of the navy, trials of seizures, decorations and 
medals, budget of the department. 

Direction of statistics and accounts.—Has everything relative to 
disablements and reinstatements in the muster rolls, temporary or 
permanent furloughs, baggage and transports, arms and ammunition. 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. 

This department has the following directions: 

Direction of buildings and improvement of towns and cities.—Has charge 
of buildings, beautifying of towns and cities, examination of buildings, 
budgets and accounts of the boards of public works, harbor works, 
shipyards and light-houses, and decorations and medals. 

Direction of ways and means of communication.—Has charge of 
aqueducts, accounts, general means of communication, ways, roads, 
railroads, canalization, cleaning of rivers, compilation and publication 
of tables, account of all articles and property belonging to the depart¬ 
ment, the budget of the latter, and inspection of works. 

JUDICIAL POWER. 

The judiciary power of Venezuela is vested in the supreme federal 
court (Corte Federal y de Casacion) and in such inferior tribunals and 
courts as may be established hy law. (Const., art. 89.) 

Qualifications for the supreme federal court.—To form the supreme 
federal court Congress shall elect 7 members, who must be natural- 
born citizens of Venezuela, who have attained 80 years of age, and are 
lawyers of the Republic. For the purpose of electing the candidates 
of the court the States of the Union are considered to be divided into 7 
groups. Each group shall be represented by one member in the court. 
The Federal District and the State of Miranda form one group. The 
members of the court are appointed for six years and may be reelected. 
The supreme federal court is the supreme tribunal of the Federation 
and of the States. (Const., arts. 90-94.) 

Powers vested in the supreme federal court.—Besides the powers 
vested in this court by the constitution, the national codes and the 
laws of the States regarding elections, the supreme federal court has 
power: 

1-2. To take cognizance of cases of impeachment against the Presi- 


72 


VENEZUELA. 


dent of the Republic, his alternates, ministers of the cabinet, the 
attorney-general, the governor of the Federal District, members of the 
court itself, presidents of the States, and high functionaries in the 
cases in which said functionaries are responsible according to the consti¬ 
tution. In these trials this supreme tribunal shall declare whether 
there is reason to hold such trials. If its findings are in the affirmative 
the official shall be removed from office and if negative all proceedings 
shall cease. 

3. To take cognizance of civil or criminal cases brought against the 
diplomatic representatives in cases allowed by international law. 

4. To take cognizance of cases of impeachment instituted against 
the diplomatic representatives of Venezuela abroad for malfeasance of 
office. 


5. To take cognizance of civil cases when allowed by law and action 
is brought against the nation. 

6. To take cognizance of the appeal to casacion (writ of error) 
according to the law. 

7. To take cognizance of cases of prize. 

8. To decide controversies of a political nature between officials of 
different States in matters within the jurisdiction of the court. 

9. To decide cases of conflict of legislation submitted for decision 
where it is not especially vested in another authority. 

10. To declare the invalidity of national laws when in conflict with 
the constitution. 

11. To declare which is the law in force where there is conflict among 
them. 

12. To declare nidi and void the acts of Congress and the Executive 
violating rights guaranteed to the States. 

13. To declare null and void all acts usurping authority comprised 
in articles 21 and 25 of the constitution. 


11. To take cognizance of cases of controversy in contracts or nego- 
tiations made by the President of the Republic. 

15. To declare when and in which case (if treaties are not in oppo¬ 
sition) foreign judgments can be enforced. 

16. The other powers that may be granted by this constitution and 
the laws. (Const., art. 95.) 


CITIZENSHIP. 


Natural-born Venezuelans.—The following are natural-born citizens 
of Venezuela: 

1. All persons who have been or may be born on Venezuelan soil, 
and 

2. The children of Venezuelan parents, whatever may be the place of 
their birth. (Const., art. 8, sec. a.) 


CITIZENSHIP. 


73 


Naturalized citizens.—Venezuelans by naturalization are: 

1. All persons born or who may hereafter be born in the Spanish- 
American Republics, provided they have acquired domicile in the 
Republic and shown their desire to become Venezuelans. 

2. Foreign-born persons who have been naturalized according to 
law. 

3. Foreigners who have become Venezuelans by virtue of special 
laws. 


4. Foreign women married to Venezuelans; but if the matrimonial 
bond is dissolved and they wish to retain the Venezuelan nationality 
they must make the corresponding declarations. 

Rule of naturalization.—The declaration of the wish to become a Ven¬ 
ezuelan is made before the principal registrar of the jurisdiction in 
which the person may establish his residence. The registrar on receiv¬ 
ing such a declaration records it and sends a copy to the national exec¬ 
utive to be published in the official gazette. (Const., art. 9.) 

Political rights and duties of Venezuelans.—Venezuelan males who 
have attained the age of 21 years are electors and eligible to public 
offices, subject to no other conditions than those expressed in the con¬ 
stitution and the laws. (Const., art. 10.) 

All Venezuelans are bound to serve the nation and enjoy in the ter¬ 
ritory of Venezuela equal rights and have the same duties under no 
other conditions than those established by the constitution. (Const., 
arts. 11-12.) 


RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF FOREIGNERS. 


Rights of foreigners.—The rights and duties of foreigners shall be 
determined by law. (Const., art. 13.) 

Foreigners who participate in political contests of the country incur 
the same responsibilities as Venezuelans and are subject to the pro¬ 
visions of item 8 of article 80. (Const., art. 14.) 

Foreigners or Venezuelans can not claim indemnity of the nation or 
of the States for damages, losses, or seizure of property, unless it is the 
work of lawful authorities acting in their public character. (Const., 
art. 15.) 


ALIEN LAW. 


This law was sanctioned by the Venezuelan Congress on April 11, 
1903, and enforced by the Federal Executive on the 16th of the same 
month and year. 

The full text of the law is as follows: 

a A rticle 1 . Foreigners shall enjoy in the territory of the United 
States of Venezuela the same civil rights as Venezuelans, as deter¬ 
mined by the constitution of the Republic. 


74 


VENEZUELA. 


“ RESIDENT FOREIGNERS. 

“Art. 2. Foreigners staying within the territory of the United 
States of Venezuela shall be considered either as resident or transient. 

“Art. 3. Resident foreigners are: 

“1. Those who have acquired residence in conformity with the pro¬ 
visions of the civil code. 

“2. Those who have voluntarily and without interruption resided 
within the territory for more than two years without diplomatic char¬ 
acter. 

“2. Those who own real estate within the territory of the Republic 
and have established permanent residence therein. 

“3. Those who have resided in the territory of the Republic for 
more than two years and are engaged in commercial pursuits or any 
other kind of industry, provided they have a house established in a 
permanent way, even though invested with the character of consul. 

“transient foreigners. 


u 


Art. 4. Transient foreigners are all such persons as are staying 
within the territory of the Republic and are not comprised in the sec¬ 
tions of the preceding article. 

“Art. 5. Resident foreigners are subject to the same obligations as 
the Venezuelans, both as to their persons and to their properties, but 
they are not subject to military service nor to the payment of forced 
and extraordinary war contributions in case of revolution or of inter¬ 
nal armed contests. 

“Art. 0 . Resident and transient foreigners must not participate in 
the political affairs of the Republic or anything relating to said politi¬ 
cal affairs. To this end they can not— 

“1. Form a part of political societies. 

“2. Edit political newspapers or write about the interior or exterior 
politics of the country in any newspaper. 

“3. Fill public office or employment. 

“4. Take arms in the domestic contentions of the Republic. 

“5. Deliver speeches which in any way relate to the politics of the 
country. 

“Art. 7. Resident foreigners who violate any of the provisions estab¬ 
lished iii article 6 lose their condition of foreigners and become ipso 
facto subject to the responsibilities, burdens, and obligations which 
might be incumbent on natives through interior political contingency. 

“Art. 8 . If in violation of the express prohibition of this law any 
foreigner exercises any public charge without being empowered 
thereto in conformity with section 22, article 54, of the constitution, 
his acts are null, and the person elected and the functionary who 
names him are jointly responsible for the same. 


ALIEN LAW. 


75 


“Art. 9. Transient foreigners who violate the provisions of article 
0 shall be immediately expelled from the territory of the Republic. 


u 


PROCEDURE IN CASE OF VIOLATIONS OF THE DECREE. 


u 


Art. 10. The presidents of the States, the governor of the Federal 
District, and the governors of the Federal Territories, upon becoming 
aware that any one or more of the resident foreigners having their 
abode in their respective jurisdictions interfere in the political affairs 
of the Republic, shall bring proper legal action through the ordinary 
tribunals, transmitting the proceedings in the cases to the Federal 
Executive in compliance with the decree to be passed in conformity 
with the provisions contained in article 7. 

“Art. 11. Neither resident nor transient foreigners have any right 
to resort to diplomatic intervention, except when, having exhausted 
all legal means before the competent authorities, it clearly appears 
that there has been a denial of justice or flagrant injustice or evident 
violation of the principles of international law. 

“Art. 12. Resident foreigners, or those who may hereafter become 
residents, and transient foreigners who are not invested with a diplo¬ 
matic character, shall be obliged to make a declaration before the first 
civil authority of the place in which they may be that they completely 
submit to the provisions of the present law and to those of the decree 
of the lltli of February, 1873, which established the rules for the 
indemnization of foreigners. All foreigners who omit to make this 
declaration shall be expelled from the country within a term to be 
designated by the National Executive. 

“Art. 13. The civil authorities before whom the declaration should 
be made shall use common paper therefor and shall not make any 
charge whatsoever. The originals of these documents shall be trans- 
mitted to the minister of the interior. 




CONSULS PRECLUDED FROM ENGAGING IN TRADE. 


“Art. 14 . The national Executive shall not issue exequaturs of 
consuls or vice-consuls to persons who are engaged in trade. 

“Art. 15 . The establishment within the country of any societies of 
any kind whatsoever which have not fixed their headquarters or resi¬ 
dence therein is definitely prohibited. 

“Art. 16. Foreigners, as well as Venezuelans, have the right to bring 
claims against the nation for indemnification for loss or damage sus¬ 
tained by them in time of war by the legally constituted civil or mili¬ 
tary authorities, provided always that the latter be acting in their 
political character; but they shall be able to make these claims only 
according to the proceedings established in the interior legislation for 
the purpose of proving the loss or damage suffered, and also their 
just value. 


76 


VENEZUELA. 


“Art. 17. Neither foreigners nor Venezuelans can bring any claim 
against the Government of Venezuela for loss or damage occasioned 
by revolutionary agents or armed bands in the service of any revolu¬ 
tion, but they shall have the right to institute personal actions against 
the authors of the damage for the loss suffered. 

“Art. 18. The provisions of this law do not affect the agreements 
contained in public treaties. 

“enrollment of names of foreign residents. 

“Art. 19. The presidents of the States, the governor of the Federal 
District, and the governors of the Federal Territories shall imme¬ 
diately proceed, on the promulgation of this law, to draw up a list of 
resident foreigners within the territory who come within their respec¬ 
tive jurisdictions, which list they shall duly transmit to the minister 
of exterior relations. 

“Art. 20. Foreigners who should come to the Republic shall, in 
order to be admitted within its territory, be under the obligation of 
presenting, before the principal civil authority of the place where 
they enter, the documents which prove their.personal status and a 
certificate of good conduct issued by the authorities at their last place 
of residence, which documents shall be in due legal form. 

“Art. 21. The national Executive shall regulate the present law. 

“Art. 22. The executive decree of the 14th of February, 1873, which 
determines the rights and duties of foreigners, and the executive 
decree of the 30th of July, 1897, which treats of the interference of 
foreigners in the electoral affairs of the country, are hereby repealed.’ 

ADMISSION OF FOREIGNERS INTO VENEZUELA. 


In conformity with the powers vested in the Federal Executive by 
section 24 of article 89 of the constitution, the Government of Ven¬ 
ezuela enforced on May 28, 1902, the following decree: 

“1. Whereas article 89 of the constitution now in force vests in the 
Federal Executive 'the power of prohibiting the entry into national 
territory and of expelling therefrom foreigners who are notoriously 
prejudicial to public order;’ and 

“2. Whereas in order to carry that provision into execution it is 
necessary to know the individuals who enter the country, in the same 
manner as has been established in other countries for like purposes, 
the Constitutional President of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

“Article 1 . Foreigners who come to Venezuela shall present to the 
administrator of the customs of the respective ports a documentary 
declaration which shall state— 

“ 1. Their given name and surnames and the names of their parents. 

“2. Their nationality. 

3. The place and date of their birth. 


U Q 


GUARANTIES. 


77 


i i 


4. The place of their last residence. 

5. Their profession and means of livelihood; and 
“6. The names, ages, and nationality of wife and minor children, if 

accompanied by them. 

‘"Art. 2. The administrators of the custom-houses shall immedi¬ 
ately telegraph to the national Executive the contents of this declara¬ 
tion, or that it has or has not been presented. 

""Art. 3. In case foreigners should not come provided with docu¬ 
ments, the} 7 may supply them by the testimony of persons of their 
acquaintance known to be trustworthy. 

‘"Art. 4. Foreigners who have come into the territory of the Repub¬ 
lic on and after October 23, 1899, shall present a similar declaration, 
if in the Federal District, to the governor of that district, and if else¬ 
where, to the president of the State, if they reside in the capital, and 
through his subordinate authorities if they are in other localities. 

“Art. 5. In the case provided for in the preceding article, the gov¬ 
ernor of the Federal District and the presidents of the respective States 
shall inform the Federal Executive of the result, according to articles 
2 and 3, in order that he may determine whether he considers the for¬ 
eigners who have presented unsatisfactory declarations, or who have 
not complied with the formalities imposed, prejudicial and subject to 
expulsion. 

“All consuls of the Republic shall cause this decree to be published 
in their respective jurisdictions, translating it from the Spanish in those 
places where that language is not spoken, and shall send to the Gov¬ 
ernment the newspapers in which it is published. 

“Art. 7. Executive decree of May 14, 1894, on this subject, is 
hereby repealed. 

“Art. 8. The ministers of the interior, of foreign affairs, and of 
finance and public credit are charged with the execution of this decree.” 


GUARANTIES. 

The nation guarantees to Venezuelans the following rights: 

1. Inviolability of life, capital punishment being abolished. 

2. Property, which will only be subject to the direct taxes decreed 
by the legislative authority in conformity with the constitution and 
to condemnation for public use after previous indemnification under 
regular proceedings. 

3. Inviolability of correspondence and other private papers, which 
can only be seized by order of the proper judicial authority according 
to established formalities respecting the secrecy of domestic and pri¬ 
vate papers. 

4. Inviolability of the domestic dwelling, which shall not be trespassed 
except to prevent the perpetration of a crime, in accordance with the 
provisions of law. 


78 


VENEZUELA. 


5. Individual liberty, and therefore: (1) Conscription for armed 
service is abolished; (2) slavery is forever proscribed; (3) slaves that 
may tread the soil of Venezuela are free; (4) all can do or perform 
what does not injure others, and (5) nobody is obliged to do what is 
not prescribed by law nor prevented from doing what it does not 
prohibit. 

6. Freedom of thought, expressed by word or through the press. 
In cases of libel the aggrieved party can sue for damages according to 
law. 

7. Liberty of transit without passport and of change of residence 
on observing the legal formalities. 


8. Liberty of industry, the law granting temporary privileges to 
authors of discoveries and products and to those who establish a new 
unexploited industry in the country. 

9. Liberty of meeting or association without arms, publicly or pri¬ 
vately, without coercion from the authorities. 

10. Liberty of petition with any official, authority, or corporation 
who are bound to give a prompt resolution. If this petition is signed 
by several persons the first five shall answer for the authenticity of 
the signatures and all for the veracity of the facts set forth. 

11. The libert\ 7 of suffrage without other restrictions than those 
established by this constitution and the laws. 

12. Liberty of teaching, which will be protected in every sense. 

13. Religious liberty according to the laws and under the supreme 
inspection of the President of the Republic. 

14. Individual or personal security, and therefore: (1) No Venezue¬ 
lan can be imprisoned or arrested for debts unless in punishment for 
fraud or crime; (2) nor to be tried by special tribunals or commissions, 
but by his natural judges and according to preexisting laws; (3) nor 
to be imprisoned or arrested without previous summary information 
of having committed a crime deserving corporal punishment and a 
written order from the official directing the imprisonment, stating the 
nature thereof, unless the person is caught in the act of perpetrating 
a crime; (4) nor be deprived of communication for any reason; (5) nor 
be obliged to take oath or give evidence in a criminal action brought 
against himself or his relatives within the fourth degree of consan¬ 
guinity, second of affinity, nor against his or her consort; (0) nor to 
continue imprisoned if causes therefor have been destroyed; (7) nor to 
be condemed to suffer punishment in criminal matters except after 
having been summoned and heard legally; (8) nor to be condemned to 
to corporal punishment for over fifteen years. 

15. Equality, and therefore: (1) All must be tried by the same laws 
and are subject to equal duties, services, and taxes; (2) no titles of 
nobility, honors, and hereditary distinction will be granted, nor employ- 


LAWS. 


79 


merits or offices, the salaries or emoluments of which shall last beyond 
the termination of the service; (3) no other official treatment than 
“Citizen" and “You" will he given to employees and corporations. 
(Const., art. 17.) The States have power to grant other rights to their 
inhabitants. (Const., art. 18.) 

Punishment for violation of guaranties.—Those who violate or in any 
manner infringe upon the guaranties granted to Venezuelans are 
guilty, and punishment must be inflicted according to the law, and any 
citizen may bring an action against them. (Const., art. 20.) 

Laws regulating rights and guaranties.—These laws shall not impair 
or weaken foregoing rights and guaranties. (Const., art. 21.) 

National sovereignty.—Sovereignty is essentially vested in the people, 
who exercise it through the public powers. (Const., art. 22.) 

Limitation of authority.—The definition of duties and prerogatives 
establishes the limit of public power; therefore all usurpatory acts 
and decisions are null and void. (Const., arts. 23 and 24.) 

The government of the union shall ever be republican, federal, 
democratic, elective, representative, alternative, and responsible, and 
the exercise of sovereignty implies individual responsibility for trans¬ 
gression of vested authority. Public power is distributed between 
the Federal power and the power of the States. (Const., 26 to 28.) 

Law of nations forms part of legislation.—The law of nations forms 
part of the national legislation, but it can not be invoked against the 
constitution and laws of the Republic. (Const., art. 125.) 

Amendments to constitution.—Congress, in ordinary session, can 
decree amendments or additions to the constitution, provided they are 
proposed by the legislatures'of three-fourths of the several States in 
ordinary session, but said amendments or additions can only be 
enforced after they are ratified by the legislatures. Congress may 
likewise take the initiative in amendments or additions with the for¬ 
malities established by law. (Const., arts. 127 to 131.) 

LAWS. 


According to the organic law of the departments, that of interior 
relations has charge of the annual compilation and codification of laws, 
decrees, resolutions, and sentences. There exist 22 volumes contain¬ 
ing the “Compilation of the laws and decrees of Venezuela," and the 
absolute majority of these laws are in codified form. Under thi3 
heading mav be included the national constitution and those of the 

O 1' 

States of the union. 

Codes. —The codes—civil, criminal, and commercial—are the fol¬ 
lowing: Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Penal Code, Code of 
Criminal Procedure, Code of Commerce. 


80 


VENEZUELA. 


CIVIL LAW. 


Civil law is ruled by the new civil code and by that of procedure, 
both enacted on April 19, 1904. 

The laws of the United States of Venezuela are binding upon all 
persons residing within its limits, whether national citizens or for¬ 
eigners. (Civil Code, art. 6.) 

No law is binding before it is promulgated, nor is ignorance of the 
law an excuse for not fulfilling it. (Civil Code, arts. 1 and 2.) 

No retroactive effect.—Laws have no retroactive effect. They can 
not be renounced in general or by private compact, nor can they be 
repealed but by other laws. (Civil Code, arts. 3 to 5.) 

Possession of property.—Real or personal estate within Venezuelan 
territory, although possessed by foreigners, is ruled by Venezuelan 
legislation. (Civil Code, art. 8.) 

Official language.—The official and legal language is Spanish, and 
no other language can be used in the business of public offices or in 
books of accounts of merchants, bankers, traders, and industrial con¬ 
cerns. (Civil Code, art. 11.) 

Civil courts.—In the civil courts of Venezuela all persons are con¬ 
sidered equal before the law. The national courts, those of the 
States, and those of the Federal District are obliged to administer jus¬ 
tice as well to natural-born citizens as to aliens, be they residents or 
transients, provided said tribunals are competent to pass judgment on 
the respective matter according to the code and organic laws. (Code 
Civ. Pro., arts. 1 and 2.) 

Trials.—Foreigners can not occupy 7 the position of permanent judge 
or member of any court of law in Venezuela, and any person being a 
party in a case the interest of which is beyond $800 is entitled to be 
tried, in all instances of law, by a collegiate court, whose decisive or 
interlocutory sentence shall be final. (Code Civ. Pro., arts. 3 and 4.) 

Application of laws.—In the application of fundamental laws judges 
shall give preference to the provisions of the Civil Code, and in apply¬ 
ing the precepts of private international law they shall first take into 
account public treaties of Venezuela with the respective nation. In 
default of them they shall apply national legislation, and, lastly, the 
principles of said law generally accepted. If on appeal the second 
sentence is wholly in conformity with the essential part of the first, 
there will be no third instance of appeal, unless there is disagreement 
regarding costs, but in no case shall a trial be instituted in the fourth 
instance. (Code Civ. Pro., arts. 6 to 31.) 

Justice.—Justice is imparted “in the name of the United States of 
Venezuela,” and letters rogatory, when issued, shall also be thus 
headed and are sent abroad either through the diplomatic or consular 
officers. (Code Civ. Pro., arts. 33-35.) 


CRIMINAL LAW. 


81 


Responsibility of judges.—Judicial officials are responsible for the 
offenses or crimes they ma} 7 commit in the exercise of their functions, 
and in a civil suit the parties can appear either personally or be legally 
represented. (Code Civ. Pro., art. 36.) 

CRIMINAL LAW. 

Crimes and offenses are “punished according to the Penal Code” 
and that of Procedure, both declared in force on April 19, 1901. 

No punishment shall be inflicted unless for a crime or offense 
expressly stated in the law. Criminal legislation has retroactive force 
when favorable for the indicted or accused. (Penal Code, arts. 1-5.) 

Criminal prosecution.—Any person infringing the laws of Venezuela 
within its territory is liable to punishment according to Venezuelan 
law. (Art. 8.) 

Foreign subjects or citizens who have come to Venezuela and who 
in a foreign country have committed a crime against the security of 
the Republic or any of its citizens. (Art. 19, sec. 2.) 

Venezuelans and foreigners who may make or introduce from abroad 
into Venezuelan territory counterfeit mone} 7 , currency, or bonds of 
the Republic, and are arrested in Venezuela. (Art. 19, sec. 10.) 

Foreigners who may enter ports or other places not open to com¬ 
merce, or violate quarantine or other sanitary laws. (Arts. 13-11.) 

Venezuelans are not extradited.—Venezuelans shall in no case be 
extradited, but shall be prosecuted and tried in Venezuela, if for the 
crime imputed they are amenable to law according to Venezuelan 
legislation. (Art. 20.) 

Foreigners, when extraditable.—Foreigners shall not be extradited 
for political crimes nor for any act which is not considered a crime 
according to Venezuelan law. (Art. 20, sec. 1.) 

Foreigners shall be extraditable for common crimes according to 
the provisions of the law and public treaties, provided no capital pun¬ 
ishment is to be inflicted . a (Art. 20, secs. 2-3.) 

Penalties for crimes.—There are several kinds of crimes described 
in Titles I to X of book second of the Penal Code. The penalties for 
crimes are: Penitentiary, (partly) solitary confinement with hard 
labor (ten to fifteen years); penitentiary, open confinement (three to 
twelve }^ears); imprisonment (three days to five years); expulsion, 
criminal fine, and disqualifications for the exercise of public functions 
for a term equal to the imprisonment after the expiration of the 
penalty. 

Penalties for offenses.—The penalties for offenses are corporal or 
noncorporal. The first are penitentiary open or closed confinement, 
arrest, etc. The second are correctional fine, suspension of office or 

a Death penalty abolished in Venezuela since April 3, 1849. 

4a—04-6 






82 


VENEZUELA. 


from the exercise of a profession, industry, or charge. There are 
principal and accessory offenses. (Arts. 49-53.) 

Offenses against public order.—Those who disobey orders legall} 7 issued 
by competent authority in the interest of justice or public security 
are liable to imprisonment from five to thirty days, or to a correctional 
fine of $4 to $30. (Penal Code, art. 440.) 

Those who, in cases of mobs, calamities, or flagrant contravention, 
refuse, without just motive, to give assistance or help, and those who 
withhold information to officials on duty shall be fined from $2 to $10, 
and if the information supplied is willfully wrong, $10 to $30. (Penal 
Code, art. 441.) 

Persons who, on being examined by a public functionary discharg¬ 
ing his duty, give a wrong name, profession, birthplace, or residence, 
shall be fined $2 to $8. If the information supplied is willfulty wrong, 
$10 to $50. (Penal Code, art. 442.) 

COMMERCIAL LAW. 

The Code of Commerce, promulgated on April 19, 1904, establishes 
the duties of merchants regarding their commercial transactions. 

Acts of commerce.—Acts of commerce are the purchase or exchange 
of personal property with intent to resell, exchange, or lease them; 
the purchase or sale of a business concern or stock of a commercial 
company; the renting of personal property; commission or commercial 
mandate; manufactures, stores, hotels, and similar enterprises; land 
and water transportation; warehouse deposits, mercantile agencies, 
actions and shows; insurance of merchandise; letters of exchange, 
drafts, banking, brokerage, stock exchange operations, shipbuilding, 
purchase and sale of ships, and all contracts arising from maritime or 
fluvial navigation. 

Merchants.—All persons who are legally capable, can carry on com¬ 
merce. A commercial register or record is kept in the Tribunals of 
Commerce, where all persons who desire to establish a wholesale busi¬ 
ness establishment are inscribed according to the respective provisions 
of the law. Captains of ships have also to be inscribed in the respect¬ 
ive jurisdiction. Accounts must be kept in books in the prescribed 
form in the Spanish language, and all correspondence must be pro perl} 7 
filed. Books kept in due form can be furnished as proof, and only in 
the course of the trial of a case can a judge decree the inspection of 
any merchants’ books. 

Companies.—The law acknowledges three kinds of commercial com¬ 
panies, namely: (1) Firms—that is to say, companies of a collective 
name and whose partners are conjointly responsible; (2) simple or 
stock companies, with both individually responsible and silent part¬ 
ners; (3) joint stock companies, which must not consist of less than 
seven partners. These three kinds of companies constitute juridic 


FOREIGN COMPANIES. 


83 


persons, which are distinct in that which regards the personality of 
the partners. The law likewise acknowledges the existence of acci¬ 
dental companies. Contracts of partnership must be in the form of 
public or private documents. 

Commercial contracts.—These contracts can be proved by public and 
private documents, by abstracts from brokers’ books duly signed, by 
the brokers’ books when parties agree in the existence of the contract, 
by accepted invoices, by the books of the contracting parties if kept 
in due form, by declaration of witnesses, and by whatever other means 
admitted by civil law. 

Commercial jurisdiction.—-Tribunals of commerce are established by 
competent authorities, but where there is none ordinary courts of 
justice exercise commercial jurisdiction. In important mercantile 
centers the competent authority may establish special tribunals of 
commerce to try cases in the first instance. Tribunals of commerce 

%j 

are competent to try all controversies regarding acts of commerce, and 
especially bills of exchange, drafts, checks, etc.: actions brought 
against captains of ships and merchants’ clerks; actions against man¬ 
agers of shows, and everything concerning the bankruptcy of mer¬ 
chants according to the provisions of the Code of Commerce. The 
procedure of common courts of law is observed in mercantile matters 
unless otherwise provided in the Code of Commerce. 

FOREIGN COMPANIES. 

Section -I of the Code of Commerce (April 19, 1904) contains the 
provisions to which foreign companies are subject in Venezuela, the 
full text of which is as follows: 

Conditions.—Foreign companies may do business in Venezuela and 
appear in court, either as plaintiffs or as defendants, but they shall be 
subject to the legal provisions governing nonresidents. (Art. 293.) 

Registration of companies.—Foreign companies desiring to estab¬ 
lish agencies, branches, or exploitations in Venezuela, be they simple 
partnership or limited capital companies, shall comply with the same 
provisions established for national companies, and if they be limited 
stock companies they shall register in the commercial registry office 
of the place where their agency or exploitation is situated, and publish 
in a paper of the same locality the contract of partnership and other 
documents necessary for the formation of companies, in accordance 
with the laws of their nationality, as well as an authenticated copy of 
the articles referring to said laws. They shall also forward a copy of 
their by-laws to be filed at the registry office. (Art. 294.) 

An}^ alterations made to the contract of partnership or to the 
by-laws shall likewise he registered and published in the manner set 
forth in the preceding article. (Art. 295.) 


84 


VENEZUELA. 


Eepresentation.—Foreign companies having exploitations, agencies, 
or branches in Venezuela shall have a representative in the Republic 
holding full power of attorney within the limits of their concessions 
and titles. (Art. 296.) 

Assessment.—Any foreign assurance company, in order to be able 
to carry on business in Venezuela, must own real estate, free from all 
incumbrance, in the country, of such a value as the National Execu¬ 
tive shall decide in each case, in accordance with the importance of 
the company and of the business it may transact. This value shall 
not be less than 600,000 bolivars for life insurance companies, or 
200,000 bolivars for othei* companies, and it ma 3 T be made to equal 25 
per cent of the sums insured by such companies in the country. (Art. 
297.) 

Penalties.—The failure to comply with the provisions set forth in 
article 294 regarding the formation of companies shall render the 
administrators, agents, representatives or others who may contract in 
their name, personally and collectively, liable for all obligations con¬ 
tracted in the country, without prejudice to the rights of third parties 
to take action against the company. 

Those who may contract in the name of assurance companies that 
have not fulfilled all legal requisites shall furthermore be liable to a 
fine of from 1,000 to 10,000 bolivars or proportionate imprisonment. 
(Art. 298.) 

Venezuelan jurisdiction.—The jurisdiction corresponding to Vene¬ 
zuelan courts, according to the laws of Venezuela governing assurance 
contracts made by foreign companies, can in no case be renounced. 
(Art. 299.) 

Foreign companies already having agencies, branches, or exploi¬ 
tations in Venezuela shall comply with the provisions of article 294 
within six months from the date of promulgation of this code. 

Assurance companies shall carry out the dispositions contained in 
article 297 within the same term. (Art. 300.) 

BANKRUPTCY. 

A merchant who ceases to meet his commercial obligations finds 
himself in a state of bankruptcy. (Art. 870.) 

There are three kinds of bankruptcy, viz: Casual, culpable, and 
fraudulent. 

Casual bankruptcy arises from contingent cases or main force. 

Culpable bankruptcy is due to imprudent or dissipated conduct on 
the part of the bankrupt. 

Fraudulent bankruptcy is that which is caused by fraudulent acts of 
the bankrupt. (Art. 871.) 

Culpability of bankrupts.—Bankruptcy is declared culpable in the 
following cases; 


BANKRUPTCY. 


85 


1. When the personal and domestic expenses of the bankrupt have 
been excessive. 

2. When the bankrupt has lost considerable sums at gambling, in 
fictitious stock exchange operations, or others of pure hazard. 

3. When he has undersold goods, contracted exorbitant obligations, 
or employed ruinous methods to procure funds, all of which obliga¬ 
tions could but delay the declaration in bankruptcy. 

4. When, after having ceased in his payments, he has paid any of 
the creditors in detriment to the rest. (Art. 757.) 

Bankruptcy may be declared culpable: 

1. When the bankrupt has given security or contracted, for some¬ 
one else, excessive obligations. 

2. When he incurs a new bankruptcy without having fulfilled the 
previous agreement. 

3. When the necessary documents have not been entered in the com¬ 
mercial register. 

4. When he has omitted to file in the tribunal of commerce his 
declaration of bankruptcy. 

5. When he does not appear before the assignees or the judge when 
so prescribed by law. 

6. When he has not kept the proper books or correspondence nor 
made inventories, or when any of them are incomplete or defective, 
without the commission of fraud. (Art. 758.) 

Bankruptcy is declared fraudulent: When the bankrupt has sup¬ 
pressed, forged, mutilated his books, or has subtracted or hidden the 
whole or part of his assets, or when he has been found to be fraudu¬ 
lent by his books or notes, or by public or private documents. (Art. 
759.) 

Culpable and fraudulent bankruptcies shall be punished in accord¬ 
ance with the Penal Code. (Art. 873.) 

When a stock company is declared bankrupt the promoters and 
managers shall be punished as culpable bankrupts when they have 
not observed the prescribed formalities or when through their fault 
the company goes bankrupt. 

They shall be punished as fraudulent bankrupts: 

1. When, with intent to deceive, they have not published the arti¬ 
cles of association of the company as prescribed by law. 

2. When they have made a false declaration of the subscribed or 
paid-up capital. 

3. When they have paid false dividends, which have diminished the 
capital. 

4. When, through deceit or fraudulent operations, the} r have 
caused the company to become bankrupt. (Art. 876.) 

Shall be punished as fraudulent bankrupts: 


86 


VENEZUELA. 


1. Those who knowingly, and in the interest of the bankrupt, have 
subtracted or hidden any part of or all the latter’s assets. 

2. Those convicted of having presented in a fraudulent manner 
supposed claims, or who have altered the nature or date of the claim 
to attain ranking in detriment of the other creditors. 

3. Those who have carried on commerce under a supposed or some¬ 
one else’s name and are guilty of facts expressed as fraudulent in this 
code. (Art. 877.) 

The husband or wife, descendants or ascendants by blood or mar- 
riage of the bankrupt, who withdraw or withhold property belonging 
to the bankrupt without the former’s complicity shall be punished as 
guilty of theft. (Art. 878.) 

The tribunal is competent to decree the restitution to the bulk of 
assets all the property, rights, and actions intended to have been with¬ 
held, and to pass judgment on the claims for damages. (Art. 879.) 

An ordinary criminal court of law, on request of the judge of the 
tribunal of commerce or of the receivers or of any of these represent¬ 
ing an individual majority of creditors, shall declare whether the 
bankrupt is culpable or fraudulent. (Art. 880.) 

Declarations of bankruptcy.—Any merchant who is in a state of 
bankruptcy shall declare it before the judge of the tribunal of com¬ 
merce of his place of residence within three days after having ceased 
in his payments. 

In the case of a firm or company the declaration shall include the 
names and addresses of the partners conjointly responsible or of the 
silent partners who have not paid up their capital. I n the case of a joint 
stock company 7 the managers shall draw up the declaration, and are 
bound to appear before the receivers when so requested. (Art. 881.) 

The declaration of bankruptcy shall include: 

1. A general balance sheet, or an explanation of the causes which 
prevent its presentation. 

2. A full report of the causes of the bankruptcy. (Art. 882.) 

The balance sheet shall contain an itemized statement of all the per¬ 
sonal and real estate, all the debits and credits, expenses, and profits 
and losses, the latter three items for ten years back. (Art. 883.) 

Judicial declaration of bankruptcies.—The formal declaration of 
bankruptcy is made by the judge of the tribunal of commerce, and a 
deceased merchant may also be declared a bankrupt if when he died 
he had ceased in his payments. (Arts. 881—885.) 

A silent partner can not demand a declaration in bankruptcy unless 
he is a creditor, nor can a father and son, or husband and wife, who 
are creditors one from the other demand against one another the decla¬ 
ration in bankruptcy. (Arts. 889-890.) 

Assignments.—The official declaration of bankruptcy carries with it 
(1) the appointment of one or more receivers; (2) retention from the 


BANKRUPTCY. 


87 


bankrupt of his correspondence, books, and documents; (3) letters 
addressed to the bankrupt shall be handed over to the receiver; (4) 
prohibition to make any payment to the bankrupt and order to all per¬ 
sons in possession of goods or documents of the bankrupt to deliver 
them to the tribunal of commerce within three days; (5) oilier to call 
a meeting of presumable creditors; (6) order acquainting creditors 
residing in Venezuela when such meeting is to take place; (7) order 
informing creditors residing abroad of the lapse of time granted for 
presenting their claims; (8) order to publish the declaration of bank¬ 
ruptcy and the prohibition comprised in No. 4; and (9) order to remit 
without delay a copy of the state of the case to the competent judge 
in case of criminal proceedings. (Art. 894.) 

Arrest of bankrupts.—In cases of culpable or fraudulent bankruptcy 
the judge may decree the provisional arrest of the bankrupt, but 
the latter may retain his liberty on proper bail being furnished and 
accepted. He may also obtain provisionally for himself and his family 
means of subsistence decreed by the judge conjointly with the receivers. 
(Arts. 905-907.) 

On the same day that the bankruptcy is declared the judge of com¬ 
merce shall call personally or by means of a representative at the 
residence of all the establishments of the bankrupt, shall seal them 
and take charge of the keys. The inventoiy shall be drawn up by the 
receivers before two witnesses. (Arts. 908-913.) 

Appointment of receivers.—Receivers are appointed either to be 
provisional or permanent;, the} 7 can not act but conjointly, and are not 
admitted to perform their duties but after proper qualification and 
having been duly sworn in. (Arts. 924-927.) 

Duties of receivers.—Receivers represent the bulk of creditors 
actively and passively in the trial or outside it, administer the property 
and goods on which injunction has been awarded, perform all that is 
necessary for the security of the rights of and the collection of moneys 
due to the bankruptcy, and finally liquidate it according to the provi¬ 
sions of the Code of Commerce. (Art. 928.) 

Receivers shall summon the bankrupt to give information, close the 
books, and draw up the balance sheet, and the bankrupt when not 
under arrest may appear personally or be represented when the court 
allows it, and when under arrest he shall be conducted to the place 
where the examination of the books is made. (Arts. 929-937.) 

Permanent receivers shall file with the judge, within fifteen days of 
having been sworn in, a report of the business of the bankrupt and 
his books, and express an opinion regarding the order under which the 
bankruptcy should be classed. (Art. 938.) 

Ranking of creditors.—As soon as the bankruptcy is declared, the 
creditors can file with the tribunal a petition of classification of their 
claims according to the law. At the first meeting of creditors a gen- 


88 


VENEZUELA. 


eral meeting is decided to be held for the classification of creditors. 
After all the debts have been classified another meeting is called to 
ascertain whether a composition arrangement can be effected. (Arts. 
953-964.) 

Compositions.—Composition once approved is binding; the tribunal 
may then declare the bankrupt excused and receivers render an 
aocount of their administration to the tribunal, cease in their functions, 
and turn over in due form all the property to the bankrupt. (Arts. 
965-976.) 

Composition disapproved.—Composition may be disapproved when 
the bankrupt is culpable or fraudulent, when the majority of creditors 
or debts are proved false, and when all the legal formalities have not 
been observed. (Art. 977.) 

Composition annulled.—Composition is only annulled when the bank¬ 
rupt is subsequently condemned as fraudulent, or after the approval 
of the composition it is established that the bankrupt has withheld 
or concealed the exact condition of his active and passive assets. 
(Arts. 985-990.) 

i Liquidation in bankruptcy.—On a declaration of bankruptcy stock 
must be taken and the inventory of balance sheet must contain all the 
particulars prescribed by law, and if there is no composition the liqui¬ 
dating receiver must liquidate the goods and properties of the bank¬ 
rupt by sale at public auction or by private sale, for the latter course 
a special license of the judge being required. (Arts. 995-1004.) 
t Appeal against sentences.—There is no appeal against the sentences 
passed by the judge of commerce regarding the administration of the 
bankruptcy, but in the cases expressly determined by law and the 
rules established b}^ the Code of Commerce shall be followed for 
appeals against interlocutory or final sentences. (Arts. 1016-1018.) 

Discharge of bankrupts.—If the assets of the estate are sufficient to 
pay all creditors in full, the court shall give an official discharge to the 
bankrupt. The petition for such discharge must be accompanied by 
the documents of his solvency. In case of a “culpable” bankruptcy 
the bankrupt may obtain his discharge after having served his sen¬ 
tence. (Arts. 1020-1025.) 

OTHER CODES. 

The other codes in force in Venezuela are the following: Codes of 
finance, public instruction, medical jurisprudence, elections, mines, 
printing, police, military and naval codes, organic codes of the Federal 
Territories, of the courts of law, and of the courts of law of the Fed¬ 
eral district. 

RELIGION. 

The national church of Venezuela is the Roman Catholic, but for 
over fifty years (February 18, 1854) liberty of religion has existed. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



CATHEDRAL, CARACAS. 

(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 


































RELIGION. 


89 


Liberty of religion guaranteed.—This liberty is now guaranteed by 
article IT, section 13, of the present constitution, and is under the 
supreme inspection of the President of the Republic. 

The State contributes to the support of the Roman Catholic religion, 
builds churches, pays the clergy, etc. 

Ecclesiastic patronate.—The State controls the ecclesiastical appoint¬ 
ments, and forbids or permits the passage of all decrees of the Holy 
See, according to the law of ecclesiastic patronate of 1821, passed 
when Venezuela had not yet separated from Greater Colombia, and 
declared in force by the Venezuelan Congress on March 21, 1832. 

In the present constitution article 111 refers to ecclesiastic patron¬ 
ate in the following terms: “The nation being in possession of the 
right of patronate shall exercise it as determined in the law of July 


28, 1821.” 

Foreign ministers of any religion debarred from entering Venezuela — 

The Federal Executive has power, according to article 80, section 23, 
of the constitution, 44 to prohibit and prevent the ingress into the terri¬ 
tory of the Republic of foreigners especially devoted to the service of 
an}" worship or religion, no matter what their order or rank may be.” 

Ecclesiastic jurisdiction.—Ecclesiastical jurisdiction is exercised in 
Venezuela through one archbishopric and four bishoprics. Caracas 
was erected an archbishopric over one hundred years ago (1801). 
Before this date the bishoprics and the dates of their erection were 
as follows: Bishopric of Caracas, June 21, 1531; of Merida, February 
17, 1775; of Guayana, May 29, 1790; of Barquisimeto, May 7, 1817; 
of Gmirico, May 7, 1817. 

Dioceses, parishes, and churches.—The table below gives the number 
of dioceses, civil parishes, churches, archbishop, and bishops existing 
in the Republic in 1889: 


Diocese (1889). 


Caracas. 

MOrida. 

Guayana. 

Barquisimeto 
Gu&rico. 

Total... 


Civil 

parishes. 

Churches 

Arch¬ 

bishop. 

Bishops. 

116 

99 

1 


133 

134 


1 

163 

120 


1 

155 

140 


1 

72 

74 


1 


639 

567 

1 

4 


Bishops and archbishops (1535-1904).—The table below gives the 
names of the bishops and archbishops from 1535 to 1901: 


1. Don Rodrigo de las Bastidas, elected in. 1535 

2. Don Miguel Geronimo Ballesteros. 1543 

3. Don Frai Pedro de Agreda. 1558 

4. Don Frai Juan Manianillo. 1582 

5. Don Frai Diego Salinas. 1600 

6. Don Frai Pedro Martin Palomino. 1601 

7. Don Frai Pedro de Ona. 1601 



































90 


VENEZUELA. 


8. Don Frai Antonio de Alcega. 1604 

9. Don Frai Juan de Bohorques. 1610 

10. Don Frai Gonzalo de Angulo. 1617 

11. Don Juan Lopez Agurto de la Mata. 1634 

12. "Don Frai Mauro de Tovar. 1639 

13. Don Frai Alonso Briceno. 1659 

14. Don Frai Antonio Gonzalez de Acuna. 1676 

15. Dr. Don Diego de Banos y Sotomavor. 1684 

16. Don Frai Francisco del Rincon.. 1711 

17. Don Juan Jose de Escalona y Oalatayud. 1719 

18. Don Jos6 Felix Valverde. 1731 

19. Don Juan Garcia Padiano. 1742 

20. Don Manuel Breton. 1749 

21. Don Manuel Machado y Luna. 1750 

22. Don Francisco Julian Antolino. 1753 

23. Don Miguel Arguelles. 1756 

24. Don Diego Antonio Diaz Madronero. 1757 

25. Don Mariano Marti. 1770 

26. Don Juan Antonio Yiana. 1792 

27. Don Francisco Ibarra, first archbishop, in 1804. 1798 

28. Don Narciso Coll y Prat, archbishop. 1807 

29. Dr. Ramon Ignacio Mendez, archbishop. 1828 

30. Dr. Ignacio Fernandez Pena, archbishop. 1840 

31. Dr. Silvestre Guevara y Lira, archbishop. 1853 

32. Dr. Jose Antonio Ponte, archbishop, elected November 30. 1873 

33. Dr. Crfspulo Uzcdtegui, archbishop, elected February 22 . 1885 

34. Dr. Juan B. Castro, appointed coadjutor. 1904 


Different religions in 1894.—The following table shows the different 
religions into which the inhabitants of the Republic were divided in 


Federal District 

Roman Catholics. 

Protestants. 

Jews. 

and State. 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Federal District... 

40,603 

48,895 

89,558 

397 

201 

598 

147 

49 

196 

Andes (Los). 

178,157 

185,220 

363,377 

10 


10 

1 


1 

Bermudez... 

159,864 

162,292 

322,161 

111 

44 

155 

23 

10 

33 

Bolivar. 

67, 965 

60,288 

128,253 

1,324 

547 

1,871 

3 

7 

10 

Carabobo. 

103,090 

107,265 

210, 355 

141 

97 

238 

37 

17 

54 

Falcbn. 

66,693 

74,639 

141,332 

185 

63 

248 

53 

43 

95 

Lara. 

125,546 

136, 792 

262,338 

65 

8 

73 




Miranda. 

244|812 

261,694 

506,506 

129 

79 

208 

17 

5 

22 

Zamora. 

129,485 

123, 925 
82,577 

253,410 

7 

1 

8 




Zulia. 

75,117 

157,694 

79 

27 

106 













Total. 

1,191,392 

1,243,592 

2,434,984 

2,448 

1,067 

5,515 

281 

130 

411 


Federal District and State. 

Other religions. 

* Total. 

Males. 

Females. Total. 

Males. 

Females. Total. 

Federal District. 

474 

133 

607 

41,681 
178,168 
160,130 
71,613 
103,279 
66,941 
125,611 
244,958 
129,492 
75,196 

49,278 
185,220 
162,388 
63,619 
107,386 
74,748 
136,800 
261,778 
123,926 
82, 604 

90,959 
363,388 
322,518 
135,232 
210,665 
141,689 
262,411 
506,736 
252,418 
157,800 

Andes (Los).-. 

Bermudez. 

132 
2,321 

11 

10 

37 

2,777 

7 

4 

169 

5,098 

18 

14 

Bolivar. 

Carabobo. 

Falcon. 

Lara. 

Miranda. 




Zamora. 




Zulia. 




Total.. 




2,948 

2,958 

5,906 

1,197,069 

1,241,747 

2,444,816 








































































































RELIGION. 


91 


External display of worship.—External display of worship is subject 
to the following provisions of the Penal Code, and any violation of 
them is classed among the offenses u against public order.” 

Article 113 of said code provides that: 

li All persons who in violation of a legal prohibition by the proper 
authority have promoted or conducted religious ceremonies outside 
the proper place of worship, or promoted or conducted processions of 
a civil or religious character on public squares, streets, or other public 
thoroughfares, shall be amenable to a fine of from $1 to $20, or arrest 
for thirty days.” 

And article 111 reads as follows: 

u The minister of any worship who has conducted religious cere¬ 
monies of outward display in violation of provisions legally established 
by the proper authority shall be imprisoned from one to two months 
or fined from $10 to $150.” 

All matters relating to ecclesiastical patronage, religion, and public 
worship in general come under the administrative direction of the inte¬ 
rior relations department of Venezuela. 





/ 


INDEX TO CHAPTER IT. 


Page. 

Government under Spain. 61 

Rule of the Spanish Crown. 61 

Independence from Spain . 61 

Declaration of independence.. 61 

Separation from Greater Colombia. 61 

Acknowledgment of independence. 62 

Constitutional organization. s .. 62 

Constitutions sanctioned in Venezuela. 62 

Present constitution. 62 

Constitutions of the States. 62 

National constitution. 62 

Powers. 62 

Legislative power. 63 

House of Representatives (Deputies). 63 

Senate. 63 

Meeting of Congress. 63 

Organization of Congress. 63 

Power vested in Congress. 63 

Acts of Congress. 64 

Power vested in the House of Deputies. 64 

Power vested in the Senate. 64 

Federal Executive power. 64 

Qualifications of the President. 64 

Presidential term of office. 65 

Oath. 65 

Provision of disabilities. 65 

Powers vested in the President. 65 

Proceedings of elections. 65 

Powers vested in the Federal Executive. 65 

Presidents and Vice-Presidents of Venezuela (table). 67 

Chiefs of the Executive (living) (1868 to 1904). 67 

Cabinet ministers. 68 

Qualifications. 68 

Duties. 68 

Responsibilities. 68 

Organization of departments. 68 

Interior relations department. 68 

Political direction. 68 

Administrative direction. 69 

Foreign relations department. 69 

Direction of public international law. 69 

Direction of private international law. 69 

92 













































INDEX TO CHAP. II. 


93 


Federal Executive power—Continued. 

Finance and public credit department. 

Direction of custom-houses. 

Direction of the treasury. 

Direction of the budget. 

Direction of salt deposit mines. 

Direction of public property. 

Direction of public credit. 

Fomento department. 

Direction of statistics and immigration. 

Direction of public wealth, agriculture, and stock raising 

Direction of posts and telegraphs. 

Public instruction department. 

Direction of superior instruction. 

Direction of tine arts. 

Direction of statistics and accounts. 

Direction of primary popular instruction. 

War and Navy Department. 

Direction of War. 

Direction of the Navy. 

Direction of statistics and accounts. 

Public works department. 

Direction of buildings, etc. 

Direction of ways and means of communication. 

Judiciary power. 

Qualifications for the Supreme Federal Court. 

Powers vested in the Supreme Federal Court. 

Citizenship. 

Natural-born Venezuelans. 

Naturalized citizens. 

Rule of naturalization. 

Political rights and duties of Venezuelans. 

Rights and duties of foreigners. 

Rights of foreigners. 

Alien law.. 

Resident foreigners. 

Transient foreigners. 

Procedure in case of violation of decree. ... 

Consuls precluded from engaging in trade.. 

Enrollment of names of foreign residents.. 

Admission of foreigners into Venezuela. 

Guaranties. 

Inviolability of life.- 

Property. 

Inviolability of correspondence, etc. 

Inviolability of the domestic dwelling. 

Individual liberty. 

Freedom of thought. 

Liberty of transit. . 

Liberty of industry. 

Liberty of meeting or association. 

Liberty of petition. 

Liberty of suffrage. 

Liberty of teaching.. 

Religious liberty.- - - - - 


Page. 

69 

69 

70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 

70 

71 
71 
71 
71 
71 
71 
71 
71 
71 

71 

72 

72 

73 
73 
73 
73 
73 

73 

74 

74 

75 

iO 

76 

76 

77 
77 
77 
77 

77 

78 
78 
78 
78 
78 
78 
78 
78 
78 
























































94 


VENEZUELA. 


Guaranties—Continued. Page. 

Individual or personal security.„... 78 

Equality before the law. 78 

Punishment for violation of guaranties. 79 

Laws regulating rights and guaranties..-. 79 

National sovereignty. 79 

Limitation of authority. 79 

Law of nations. 79 

Amendments to constitution.. 79 

Laws. 79 

Codes (civil, criminal, and commercial). 79 

Civil law. 80 

No retroactive effect. 80 

Possession of property. 80 

Official language. 80 

Civil courts. 80 

Trials. 80 

Applications of laws. 80 

Justice. 80 

Responsibility of judges... 81 

Criminal law. 81 

Criminal prosecution. 81 

Venezuelans are not extradited. 81 

Foreigners when extraditable. 81 

Penalties for crimes. 81 

Penalties for offenses. 81 

Offenses against public order. 82 

Commercial law. 82 

Acts of commerce.*.. 82 

Merchants. 82 

Companies. 82 

Commercial contracts. 83 

Commercial jurisdiction. 83 

Foreign companies. 83 

Conditions. 83 

Registration of companies. 83 

Representation. 84 

Assessment... 84 

Penalties. 84 

Venezuelan jurisdiction. 84 

Bankruptcy. 84 

Casual bankruptcy. 84 

Culpable bankruptcy. 84 

Fraudulent bankruptcy. 84 

Culpability of bankrupts. 84 

Declarations of bankruptcies. 86 

Judicial declaration of. 86 

Assignments. 86 

Arrest of bankrupts. 87 

Appointment of receivers. 87 

Duties of receivers. 87 

Ranking of creditors. 87 

Compositions .;....~ . 88 

Compositions disapproved .. 88 























































INDEX TO CHAP. II. 


95 


Laws—Continued. Page. 

Composition annulled. 88 

Liquidation in bankruptcy. 88 

Appeal against sentences. 88 

Discharge of bankrupts. 88 

Other codes. 88 

Religion. 88 

Liberty of religion guaranteed. 89 

Ecclesiastic patronate. 89 

Foreign ministers of any religion debarred from entering into Venezuela.. 89 

Ecclesiastical jurisdiction. 89 

Dioceses, parishes, and churches (table). 89 

Bishops and archbishops (table), 1535-1904. 89 

Different religions in 1894. 90 

External display of worship. 91 
































































' 






























CHAPTER III. 


TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS—FEDERAL DISTRICTS: CARACAS, LA 
GrTJAIRA, PETARE, ISLAND OF MARGARITA. 

TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS. 

In the sixteenth century.—The first territorial division dates from 
1508, when Don Fernando de Aragon authorized Ojeda and Nicueza to 
divide among themselves all the main coast from Cape La Vela to Cape 
Gracias a Dios. Charles V granted the Welsars the right to con¬ 
quer and populate the portion of territory comprised between capes 
Maracapana and La Vela in 1528. They had authority to appoint 
governors. The Territories of Guayana, Cumana, and dependencies 
which constituted New Andalucia, formed part, in 1591, of the vice- 
royalty of the new Kingdom of Granada. 

In the seventeenth century.—The districts of Maracaibo passed, in 
1678, to the same viceroyalty on its union with Merida. 

In the eighteenth century.—The audience of Santa Fe was estab¬ 
lished in 1718, with jurisdiction in the Caracas provinces and depend¬ 
encies. The government of Caracas was raised, in 1731, to the rank 
of a captaincy-general, to which were added, in 1777, Maracaibo, 
Cumana, Barcelona, Guayana, and the islands of Margarita and Trini¬ 
dad, and, in 1786, the province of Barinas. The island of Trinidad 
was occupied in 1797 and since then retained by the English. 

In the nineteenth century.—The fundamental law of Colombia 
divided the Republic into three great departments, namely, Quito, 
Cundinamarca, and Venezuela, which were under the authority of chiefs 
called vice-presidents. The congress of Merida, in 1821, made of the 
three sections one single republic with twelve departments. Venezuela 
contained three, viz, Orinoco, Venezuela, and Zulia. When greater 
Colombia was dissolved the territory reverted to its three former divi¬ 
sions. Venezuela was subdivided into 13 provinces, with 88 municipal 
districts and 523 parishes. 

Present division.—At present the constitution establishes that the 
territory of the United States of Venezuela is the same as that which, 
in 1810, corresponded to the captaincy-general of Venezuela, with 
such modifications as may result from public treaties. (Const., art. 1.) 

97 


4a—04-7 



98 


VENEZUELA. 


Districts.—The territory of the United States of Venezuela is divided 
into districts and Federal territories. (Const., art. 2.) 

The States of the Union.—The districts which compose the Venezual 
Federation are grouped to form the States of Aragua, Bermudez, 
Bolivar, Carabobo, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Tachira, 
Trujillo, Zamora, and Zulia. (Const., art. 3.) 

Boundaries of States.—The boundaries of the States shall be deter¬ 
mined by the State laws on territorial division. (Const., art. 2.) Con¬ 
troversies in regard to limits between States shall be decided by an 
arbitration tribunal of the free appointment of the Federal executive. 
(Const., art. 126.) 

Federal Territories.—The Federal Territories are five in number, 
viz, Amazonas, Cristobal Colon, Colon, Delta-Amacuro, and Yuruari. 
(Const., art. 4.) 

The Federal District.—The Federal District shall be organized by a 
special law, and consists of the Libertador, Vargas Guaicaipuro, and 
Sucre departments, and of the island of Margarita. The seat of the 
Federal Government is the Libertador department of the Federal Dis¬ 
trict, but the executive power may establish its transitory residence in 
any^ other part of the Federal District when required by^ unforeseen cir¬ 
cumstances. (Const., art. 5.) 

The Departments compose the western section of the Federal Dis¬ 
trict and Margarita the eastern. The former consist of 31 parishes 
divided as follows: Libertador Department 13, Vargas 6, Sucre 4, and 
Guaicaipuro 8. The population of this section of the Republic was 
173,000 inhabitants according to the census of 1891, and the whole Fed¬ 
eral District may be estimated to have now a total population of over 
235,000 inhabitants. 

Libertador Department comprises the city of Caracas and the towns 
of Antimano, El Valle, La Vega, Macarao, and El Recreo. 

Vargas Department: La Guaira, Maiquetia, Macuto, Caraballeda, 
Naiguata, and Carayaca. 

Sucre Department: Petare, Chacao, Baruta, and El Hatillo. 

Guaicaipuro Department: Los Teques, Miquilen, Carrizal, San 
Pedro, San Diego, San Antonio, Tacata, and Paracotos. 

Margarita Island comprises the whole territory of the island, the 
chief city of which is Asuncion, and the towns of Porlamar, Juan 
Griego, and other of lesser importance. 


CITY OF CARACAS. 


The city of Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. It lies 17 kilo¬ 
meters to the south of, and 922 meters above, the level of the Carib¬ 
bean Sea. It is located in the valley of Caracas, which is some 17 
kilometers long from east to west and 5 kilometers wide, and sur- 


CARACAS. 


99 


rounded by the loft} 7- peaks of the Coast Range Mountains, through 
which valley flows to the eastward the Guaire River. 

Foundation of Caracas.—The city was founded in 1567 by Diego 
de L'ozada, who called it Santiago de Leon. 

Situation.—Caracas is situated 67° 4' 45" west of the Greenwich 
meridian and 69° 25' west of the Paris meridian. 

Temperature.—The temperature of Caracas, although it is located in 
the torrid zone, is that of perpetual spring, due to its altitude of 922 
meters above the level of the sea. The maximum temperature of 
Caracas is 82 F. (28° C.) and the minimum (in December, January, 
and February), 48 F. (9° C.). The average temperature is there¬ 
fore 68° F. (19° C.). 

Climate.—On account of the mildness of the temperature the 
climate and atmospheric conditions are exceptionally good. 

Area and plan of city,—The city covers an area of 4,272 square 
kilometers, and is laid out in squares intersected at right angles. 

Population of Caracas from 1580 to 1881.—The following table gives 
the population of Caracas in three hundred and one years: 


Inhabitants. 


Spanish census, 1580. 2, 000 

Spanish census, 1696. 6, 000 

Marti, 1771 . 18,669 

Estimated, *1778. 32, 000 

Count Segur, 1783. 20, 000 

Spanish census, 1796. 35,000 

Humboldt, 1800. 40, 000 

Depons, 1802. 42,000 

Diaz, 1805 . 35, 000 

Lavaise, 1807. 47,228 

Lavaise, 1810. 50,000 

Semple, 1812. 42, 000 

Palacios, 1812 . 45, 000 

Humboldt, 1812. 50,000 

Estimated, 1816 to 1820. 21, 000 

Sanavria, 1825. 29,846 

Codazzi, 1829. 29,320 

Estimated, 1830 . 30,000 

Sanavria, 1847. 34,165 

Census, 1869 . 47,013 

First official census, 1873. 48, 897 

Second official census, 1881. 55, 638 


As shown in the foregoing table, in 1810 Caracas had 50,000 inhabi¬ 
tants, and seventy-one years later, in 1881, it had but 55,6e38, because 
the city was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1812, and 
was plundered and depopulated by the Spanish forces during the years 
from 1813 to 1821. 

Population in 1891.—According to the census of that year, exclu¬ 
sive of parishes, Caracas had 72,429 inhabitants, and including all of 
the parishes, 89,133 inhabitants and 10,379 houses. 
























100 


VENEZUELA. 


Population in 1894.—In that year Caracas has 90,959 inhabitants and 
13,805 houses. 

Population in 1904.—The estimated population of Caracas in 1904 is 
about 90,000, and including’ all parishes about 100,000 inhabitants. 

Aspect of the city.—The city is regularly laid out, with streets at 
right angles to each other leading to the four points of the compass. 
The streets are all paved and numbered somewhat like those of the 
city of Washington. The sidewalks are of ordinary width and well 
cemented. The city is built on the southern slope of the coast range, 
the peaks of which have at this point an altitude of 2,600 meters 
above the level of the Caribbean Sea. The northern part of the city, 
which is the highest, is 1,043 meters above the sea level; the central 
part, 922 meters above; and the southern part, which is the lowest, 
880 meters above the same level. Three mountain streams—Catuche, 
Caroata, and Anauco—receive as affluents the surrounding brooks, 
cross the city in different directions, and empty their waters into the 
Guaire River, which flows in an easterly direction at the south of the 
city. 

In the list of the twenty capitals of the American Republics, Caracas 
occupies the ninth place from the point of view of population, but in 
regard to its movement, life, and civilization, it must be classed in 
much higher rank. The broad and shaded avenues; the numerous 
squares, ornamented by statues and embellished by luxuriant tropical 
trees; the costly public buildings and well-appointed private resi¬ 
dences; the extensive tramway and telephone service; the newspapers, 
the daily editions of which contain the latest cables from all parts 
of the world; the high standard of intellectual and social refinement of 
the better educated persons; the correct st} T le of dress and manners 
of the people in general; the display of electric light, and general use 
of electric power for industrial enterprises, and the commercial 
activity of Caracas as a great center of trade, combine to place the 
capital of the United States of Venezuela in a prominent position 
from the general standpoint of advanced civilization. 


PRINCIPAL SQUARES. 

There are three principal squares. 

Bolivar square.—The handsomest, known as Bolivar square (Plaza 
de Bolivar), is surrounded by beautiful trees and ornamented by a 
garden artistically laid out with tropical plants and flowers and lighted 
at night by powerful electric arc lamps. In the center of this square 
is the bronze equestrian statue of Bolivar, of elegant design and heroic 
size, reposing on a black marble pedestal. On the northeast side of 
this square is the cathedral; on the northwest the general post-office 
and the National Library; on the east the Yellow House, which used 
to correspond to the White House in Washington, and is now the city 



Handbook of Venezuela. 


BOLIVAR’S STATUE, BOLIVAR SQUARE, CARACAS. 

(Courtesy <>f the Venezuelan Government.) 





























































. 




















































CARACAS. 


101 


hall of the Federal District, and the State Department, which is a 
pavilion annexed to said house; on the south are the municipality, 
the offices of the Federal District, the central police station, and the 
palace of the archbishop of Caracas and Venezuela. 

Washington square.—This square is ornamented like that of Bolivar, 
and contains a statue of George Washington, whose memory is held in 
great veneration. 

Miranda square.—In front of the Pantheon is the Miranda square, 
having in its center the statue of Generalissimo Miranda, born in 
Caracas, one of the principal heroes of the Venezuelan war of inde¬ 
pendence, whose name is inscribed in the Paris Arc de Triomphe in 
commemoration of his military services to France, as a distinguished 
French general, and who fought as a lieutenant-general under Lafay¬ 
ette for the independence of the United States of America. 

Other squares.—The other squares are the 5th of July square, be¬ 
tween the capitol building and the university, with an ornamental 
fountain and gardens; the Plaza de Abril, with Gen. Ezequiel Zamora’s 
statue; the Plaza Falcon, with Marshal Falcon’s statue; the Plaza 
Carabobo, with the statue of Gen. Jose Gregorio Monagas (Venez¬ 
uela’s Lincoln); the Plaza del Venezolano, with A. L. Guzman’s statue; 
and the Plaza de Ricaurte, with a group commemorating the feats of 
arms of the war of independence. All these squares have beautiful 
gardens, and many are surrounded by ornamental railings. 


PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS. 


Capitol buildings cover an area of about 1 hectare, presenting a 
handsome combination of Moorish and Spanish architecture. They 
are built around a spacious court that opens to the broad streets 
through lofty arches, and adorned by a tine fountain and parterres of 
tropical flowers and shrubs. The Elliptical Hall, which comprises 
the larger part of the north side of the building, is well proportioned. 
Its halls are ornamented with many well-executed paintings of the 
chief warriors, presidents, statesmen, and literary men of Venezuela, 
and overhead the entire dome is canopied with a striking and heroic 
picture of the battle of Carabobo, the Yorktown of Venezuelan inde¬ 
pendence. On either side of this large hall is a smaller one. When 
public receptions are held the members of the diplomatic corps assem¬ 
ble in the eastern smaller hall and the consuls in the western one. On 
the ground and first floors of the eastern and western wings of the 
capitol buildings is the supreme federal court, and the interior, war 
and nav} r , and public instruction departments. On the south are the 
senate and the house of representatives. 

National Pantheon is a massive church edifice in the northern por¬ 
tion of the city, within which are interred the remains of Bolivar, 
Paez, and other Venezuelan heroes. It has three naves, and at the 


102 


VENEZUELA. 


head of the central one is to be seen the magnificent marble monu¬ 
ment, the masterpiece of the celebrated sculptor, Tenerani, erected to 
the memory of the liberator, Simon Bolivar, and containing his 
ashes. In the center is his statue, on one side the statue of Justice and 
of Innocence, and on the other with a lion guarding the treasure, with 
this inscription: “Cineris hie condit honorat grata et niernor patria.— 
1851.” On national holidays the building is illuminated, a guard of 
honor is mounted, and patriotic orations are delivered before the 
assembled multitude, and the marble tomb of Bolivar, blazing in the 
glare of a thousand lights, is an imposing sight. 

National Library is a new building opposite the Bolivar square and 
possesses many valuable books, and has alreadv a collection of 50,000 
volumes. 

National Museum has many objects of artistic and historic value, 
one of the most appreciated of which is the sword that belonged to 
Bolivar, his decorations and military uniforms, and other objects of 
personal use. It contains also a collection of valuable historical 
specimens. 

Central University, a great building of Gothic architecture, situ¬ 
ated opposite the capitol, is the best of its kind in Venezuela and has 
six faculties. The medical library of the university contains 1,31 T 
works in 2,393 volumes. In the interior courts of this building are the 
statues of Doctor Vargas and Engineer Cajigal, the former being the 
founder of medical studies in Venezuela, and the latter a prominent 
mathematician. 

Schools.—The public and private institutions of learning are numer¬ 
ous in the city, and there are English, French, German, and Italian 
private institutes. 

Institutions of learning in 1904.—The following table shows the 
denomination and number of institutions of learning within the Fed¬ 
eral District in 1903-1904:® 


Institution. 

Denomination. 

Number. 

Medical. 

College. 

1 

Law. 

.do. 

1 

Engineering. 

.do. 

1 

Agricultural. 

Institute. 

1 

Fine arts. 

.do. 

1 

Mining. 

School. 

1 

Polytechnic. 

.do. 

1 

Pharmacist. 

.do. 

1 

Seminary. 

.do. 

1 

Arts and trades. 

.do. 

1 

Telegraphy. 

.do. 

1 

Normal (women). 

.do. 

1 

Federal schools. 

.do. 

100 

Municipal colleges. 

.do_ 

5 

Municipal schools. 

.do. 

3G 

Federal, men (in armories). 

.do. 

3 



Total. 


15(5 




a Mem. de Instr. Publica., 190-4. 















































CARACAS. 


103 


As shown by the foregoing table there were 156 institutions of learn¬ 
ing in the Federal District of Venezuela in the year 1903-1901. 

Academies.—The \ enezuelan Academy, corresponding with the 
Royal Spanish Academy, founded in the year 1883, and the National 
Academy of History are the two highest literary bodies which are to 
be found in the Republic. The duty of the first is to preserve the 
purity of the national language, and the second studies minutely the 
past history of Venezuela, so as to give a correct account of it. Each 
of these bodies is composed of twent} T -four members. The Venzuelan 
Academy has a library of nearly 3,000 volumes, and the Academy of 
History has a valuable library on historical matters. 

Masonic Temple is one of the best of Central and South America. 
The grand lodge and other lodges of Venezuela are in correspondence 
with the majority of this class of foreign institutions, and foreign free¬ 
masons are well received b} T the Venezuelan lodges. 

Hospitals.—There are several hospitals and other charitable institu¬ 
tions in the capital, but among them the most important is the “ Hos¬ 
pital Vargas," which building occupies an area of 19,800 square 
meters, with separate buildings for each sex, and offices for the direc¬ 
tion, administration, dissecting rooms, etc., the whole adorned with 
beautiful gardens, galleries, and two small chapels. There are also 
the Linares Hospital for Children, the orphan asylum, children’s 
asylum, and Providence Asylum; the Lazar Hospital, the insane 
asylum, the hospital for the poor, and others of lesser importance. 

The following table, compiled from the report of the governor of 
the Federal District for 190-1, gives the statistics regarding the prin¬ 
cipal hospitals of Caracas: 



Number of patients. 

Number 
of op¬ 
erations 
per¬ 
formed. 

Number 
of in¬ 
mates. 

Name of hospital. 

Admitted. 

Cured. 

Vargas Hospital. 

2,606 
141 

2,084 

78 

158 


Insane asylum. 

234 

Hospital for the poor. 

70 

20 


196 

Lazar Hospital. 

21 


106 





Churches.—Caracas is the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishopric 
in Venezuela, and, besides the large and costty cathedral, possesses sev¬ 
eral handsome churches, notable among which are Altagraeia, Santa 
Teresa, La Pastora, San Francisco, Las Mercedes, and Candelaria. 
There are no Protestant churches, though a few chapels of different 
Protestant denominations are attended by foreign residents. 

Independencia Park, formerly called Calvario Park, is located on a 
large hill to the west of and overlooking the city. Some years ago 
this was a barren height, but has been subjected to a system of irriga¬ 
tion; traversed in all directions by excellent walks and drives; orna- 























104 


VENEZUELA. 


mented with fountains and planted with varieties of tropical plants and 
trees. From its great height can be obtained a bird’s-eye view of the 
city and the beautiful valley to the eastward. This park contains the 
statutes of Columbus and Marshall Sucre. 

Theaters.—There are three theaters in the city, the principal of 
which, the Municipal Theater, is artistically decorated and equipped 
with modern machinery. All are adapted to opera and vaudevilles. 

Amusements.—Caracas has all the places of amusement to be found 
in a tirst-class city; hotels, clubs, cafes, etc., the bull ring, the race 
track of Sabana Grande (where races are held under the management 
of the Caracas Jockey Club), and baseball and bic}^cle parks and 
grounds. 

General market.—There is a large general market, two stories in 
height, constructed according to the most modern principles and con¬ 
sidered one of the best in America. It is kept very clean and situated 
in the central part of the city. It is stocked with choice meats, fowl 
and fish, and a plentiful variety of fresh vegetables. Beef, mutton, 
and pork are the staple meats; and potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, 
celery, lettuce, cresses, etc., comprise the list of vegetables. The 
bread, prepared from American flour, is of excellent quality. The 
prices of all these articles, as well as other supplies for the table, com¬ 
pare favorably with the cost of the same in American or European 
markets. 

Slaughterhouse, situated on the outskirts of the city, is a new build¬ 
ing, constructed by a foreign company; has the latest improved 
machinery and is run by steam power. 

Railway stations.—Four railways start from Caracas; one, the La 
Guaira and Caracas Railway, connecting it with the neighboring port 
of La Guaira; another, the Central Railway, runs to Petare and Santa 
Lucia; a third, the Gran Ferrocarril de Venezuela, extends to Valencia, 
179 kilometers, crossing the valle}^ of Aragua, through 86 tunnels and 
across 212 viaducts, and the fourth line runs to the small town of El 
Valle. The La Guaira and Caracas line, concluded in 1883, is 36^ 
kilometers long and carries to the port of La Guaira all the natural 
products of the Federal District and neighboring States. 

Tramway lines.—There are two tramway companies. One line 
runs across the city from the La Guaira and Great Venezuelan Railroad 
stations on the extreme west to its terminus on the extreme east at the 
central station, with branches to the old and the new slaughterhouses. 
Another runs from the south to the north of the city, with six branch 
lines in different directions. 

Telegraph and cable offices.—The telegraph office of Caracas is the 
central office and is in communication with the whole country and the 
entire world. 

Telephone company has a building of its own. This is the central 


CARACAS. 


105 


office and is connected by long-distance wires with the most important 
cities of Venezuela. All the city is crossed by telephone lines. 

Cajigal Observatory.—The Astronomical and Meteorological Ob¬ 
servatory is provided with all the most modern instruments pertaining 
to this class of institutions and is in constant correspondence with 
American and European observatories. It has rendered services 
which have been appreciated abroad, due to the accuracy of its reports 
and accounts of the local geographic and meteorologic conditions. 

Banks.—There are three banking institutions in Caracas, viz: The 
Bank of Venezuela, with a capital of $2,500,000 and a movement of 
$5,000,000; the Bank of Caracas, with a capital of $1,200,000 and a 
movement of $4,000,000, and the Institute) de Credito Mobiliario. 

Board of health and municipal laboratory.—The latter has been in 
existence since 1890, and has charge of all matters pertaining to 
the analysis of food and beverages and the prevention of all kinds of 
adulteration of articles for daily consumption in the Federal District. 
The former has charge of the sanitation of the city. 

Water supply.—Caracas is plentifully supplied with very good 
drinkable water at considerable pressure. It is obtained from the 
Macarao River, some 25 kilometers distant from the capital, carried 
in large water mains and deposited into reservoirs built on the Cal- 
vario hill, where it is filtered and distributed to the several water and 
sewer mains of the city. There are two other reservoirs on the north 
of the city, one of which accumulates and supplies water from the 
Catuche River. 

Bridges.—Caracas has forty bridges, besides a picturesque iron 
viaduct 41 meters long, located near the Great Venezuela and the Caracas 
and La Guaira Railway" stations, which unites the northeastern part of 
the city with the Independencia Park, and the “iron bridge” over the 
Guiare River in the southern part of the city. 

Newspapers.—Besides the Official Gazette, a daily publication which 
contains all the acts of the Government, there are 16 political and gen¬ 
eral newspapers, 2 commercial, 3 scientific, 1 art, 1 religious, and 2 
literary. Official publications are edited in Caracas in the Government 
Printing Office, which provides all the necessary elements and most 
modern machinery for this kind of work. There are, besides, 18 print¬ 
ing houses belonging to private individuals. The capital invested in 
these commercial enterprises in the capital city of Venezuela amounts 
to about $240,000. 


ELECTRIC POWER PLANT. 


The Caracas Electric Company receives its supply of electric 
power through six wires from two plants, El Encantado and Los 
Naranjos, 16 kilometers distant from the capital. 

Encantado plant.—The construction of this plant began in 1896. 
It is owned by a private company and located on the banks of the river 


i 



106 


VENEZUELA. 


Guaire near the grottoes of the Encantado, 6 kilometers distant from 
the city of Petare. It makes use of a fall of water 36^ meters high. 

Naranjos plant.— This plant is 3 kilometers distant from the first 
and avails itself of a fall of water 151 meters high. 

Total impulse. —The total hydraulic impulse for both stations is 
derived from an altitude of 190£ meters. 

Volume of water. —The volume of water supplied to the first plant 
fluctuates between 1,000 and 1,000 liters per second, the average being 
2,320 liters. The second plant receives 1,315 liters per second. Tak¬ 
ing into consideration the minimum of 1,000 liters and the total fall 
of water of 190^ meters, a gross power of 190,500 kilogrameters per 
second is produced, which are equivalent to 2,510 horsepower. 

Turbines. —The turbines, as well as all the hydraulic material for 
both plants, came from Zurich. 

First station. —The generating station of El Encantado has four 
turbines of from 210 to 260 horsepower each, of vertical shaft, and 
two of from 20 to 21 horsepower to work as exciters. The veloc¬ 
ity of rotation is 375 revolutions per minute. The mains which sup¬ 
ply water to the turbines have 75 and 30 centimeters, respectively, 
with a flow of 1.70 and 1 meter each per second, with a system of valves 
to control the admission of water. 

Maximum power. —The second plant is in course of construction 
and will be in complete working order within a short time. It will 
have an output of 610 horsepower, and the maximum output of both 
plants will be 2,700 horsepower. 

Electric current. —The triple-alternative, high-voltage, and low- 
frequency electric current is used, as adopted in the majority of modern 
plants for the transmission of energy. Relatively thin wires are 
employed to avoid resistance and insure economy". The Encantado 
plant has four alternators producing a current of 5,200 volts, with a 
frequency of 50 cycles per second. 

Commercial efficiency.— The commercial efficiency of the machines 
is guaranteed to be 91 per cent. The resistance of the induced coils is 
2,227 ohms. 


Second station. —The generators at Los Naranjos are four in num¬ 
ber, of the horizontal-shaft system, connected to the turbines. When 
in complete working order the output will be 5,200 volts, which may 
reach 10,000 volts. 

Commercial efficiency. —The commercial efficiency of this plant is 
guaranteed to be 93 per cent. 

Total power. —The total power of both generating stations, meas¬ 
ured at their respective terminals, is 1,836.63 kilowatts, equal to 
2,495.40 horsepower. 

Total voltage. —The total potential available is 15,000 volts, 
employed in lighting the city and as power for commercial enter¬ 
prises. 


CARACAS. 


107 


Industries.—Factories of considerable importance in Caracas are 
manufacturing cigars, cigarettes, chocolate, rum, corn flour, beer, ice, 
soda water, shoes, sandals, soap, candles, matches, and brandy. There 
are besides many sawmills and manufactories of lesser importance. 

Commerce.—Caracas is the great center of the commerce of Vene¬ 
zuela, for it exports to the interior of the country and imports from 
it all products and forwards them by its seaport, La Guaira, two 
hours distant by railway and eight hours by a stage road, which latter 
was constructed by the Spanish and is kept in good condition. The 
chief articles of consumption are coflee, cacao, sugar, corn, beans, 
potatoes, cocoanuts, bananas, pineapples, all kinds of tropical fruit, 
skins, hides, soap, candles, matches, sandals, shoes, cigars, cigarettes, 
brandy, rum, and alcohol. 

Caracas stock market. 




Capital. 

Emission 

Selling prices. 



value. 

From— 

To— 

Interior (1 per cent monthly). 

Bolivars.a 

3,360, 596. 00 
59, 809,316. 00 
4,395, 513.00 
48,811,640. CO 
900,000. 00 
12,000,000.00 
6,000,000.00 
800,000.00 
400,000.00 
190,200.00 
550,000.00 
200,000.00 
2,500,000.00 
336,000.00 
1,500,000.00 

60, 000.00 
2,074,479.84 
10,175,199. 00 
3,345,000.00 
960, 000.00 
1,000,000.00 

Bolivars.a 

Per cent. 
35 

Per cent. 
36 

National interior debt. 


22 

23 

French diplomatic debt, 3 per cent. 


39 

40 

German loan, Diskonto Gesellschaft. 


43 

44 

Municipal bonds. 


8 

10 

Bank of Venezuela. 

15,000,000.00 
7,000,000.00 
400.00 

90 

91 

Bank of Caracas. 

52 

53 

Caracas Tramway Co. 

40 

42 

Bolivar Tramway Co. 

400.00 

30 

35 

Caracas Gas Co. 

100.00 

80 

82 

Venezuelan Insurance Co. 

500. 00 

30 

35 

The Transport Co. 

200.00 

200 

200 

National Brewery Co. 

100.00 

60 

60 

El Valle R.R_'. 

200. 00 

25 

40 

Electric Power Co. 

100.00 

85 

86 

Special bonds of Caracas: 

Electric light. 

100. 00 

85 

90 

Treasury bonds. 

500. 00 

14 

15 

Caracas waterworks. 

500.00 

40 

50 

Salt bonds. 

110 

112 

Salt certificates. 

375. 00 

110 

112 

Coal mines Curamichate. 

500.00 

40 

45 

Savings bank. 

70 

75 

Gold... 



0i 

04 

American gold. 


0} 

0? 


1 


a A bolivar is equivalent to .193 cents American gold, or 1 franc. 


Value of real estate in 1870.—The following table gives the value 
of public and private real estate in the Federal District in 1870 (the 
Vargas department is not included in this table): 


Public buildings. $550,000 

Princflial bridges (11).,. 200, 000 

Squares.. 100, 000 

Cemeteries (8). 160,000 

Cathedral building and dependencies. 500, 000 

Other ecclesiastic property. 2, 300, 000 

University and dependencies. 340, 000 

Dwelling houses (8,417).- 13,850,000 


$18, 000, 000 



























































108 


VENEZUELA. 


Value of property in 1904.—At present, with the many public and 
private buildings that have been added to the city and the increase in 
value of real estate during the last thirty-four years, an approximate 
calculation may place the value of all real estate in the Libertador 
department at $50,000,000. 

CITY OF LA GUAIRA. 

The city of La Guaira, the main port of Venezuela for imports and 
exports, is situated on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, scarcely 11 
kilometers from Caracas, in a direct line, but 37 kilometers by rail¬ 
road. The cit} T has 14,000 inhabitants. Its annual mean temperature 
is 84° F.; and the extremes of temperature are 74^ F., and 94° F. 

Port of La Guaira.—The port of La Guaira was founded hy Osorio 
Villegas in 1558. The roadstead of Caraballeda, 9 kilometers east of 
La Guaira, was formerly the port of the latter city, but the inhabit¬ 
ants deserted the place and settled at La Guaira. Seven years after 
its settlement the English filibuster, Amias Preston, landed at Macuto, 
4 kilometers east of La Guaira, and with 400 men scaled the precipi¬ 
tous mountains, sacked the city of Caracas, and safely returned to 
their ships. In 1680 La Guaira was sacked by the French under the 
command of Grammont; but in 1703 the attack of the Dutch squadron 
was successful^ repulsed. In 1739, the attack of an English squad¬ 
ron was also repulsed, and in 1743 a British fleet of 17 sails, under the 
command of Commodore Knowles, was defeated and driven off. The 
cit} T was totally destroyed in 1812 b} r the earthquake that overwhelmed 
the city of Caracas. 

La Guaira is one of the chief points of interest in connection with 
the war of independence. Here was plotted the revolution of Gual 
and Espana; here began the martyrdom of the brave Miranda, and 
here were executed Spanish and patriot prisoners. 

Aspect of city.—The view of La Guaira, as approached from the 
sea, is especially charming, so much so that the famous naturalist and 
voyager, Baron von Humboldt, has remarked that only the beauty of 
Santa Cruz of Teneriffe, in the Canary Islands, can be compared with 
it. The loft}^ mountains of the coast range rise abruptly from the 
sea to the altitude of 2,600 meters. At their base, on a slope varying 
from 40 to 100 meters in width, and stretching for 2 kilometers along 
the shore, lies the city of La Guaira compactly built in amphitheater. 

Improvements.—Many important improvements have lately been 
effected. A long line of formidable shore batteries, constructed by the 
Spaniards, have been demolished, and thus a considerable part of the 
land in front of the custom-house has been reclaimed. 

Breakwater.—The breakwater has transformed the rough roadstead 
into a saf6 and commodious port at a cost of $5,000,000. Those who 
have formerly visited La Guaira will not forget the inconveniences 


LA GUAIKA. 


109 


and even dangers of disembarking in open sea. The vessels steam in 
now, around the west end of the mole, drop anchor in smooth water 
at the pier, and land passengers and freight without difficulty or 
inconvenience. It was completed in 1891. The sea wall thus built is 
623 meters long, with a depth of water of 11 meters at the extreme 
point. It is laid down in an average depth of 9 meters of water, and 
is built up 6 meters above the sea level. The base of the structure 
is 17 meters wide, and slopes to a width of 10 meters at the ordi- 
nary level of the deck of a vessel. The foundation is laid with bag's 
of concrete weighing 150 metric tons each, brought up to within 3 
meters of the surface of the water, and the wall built to the surface 
by dropping 75 metric ton bags of concrete upon this foundation. 
The wall above the water is built of mass concrete deposited inside 
of frames in the usual manner. ' 

Area of harbor.—The area of sheltered water in the harbor is 31 
hectares, of an average depth of 8.50 meters. Eighteen acres of land 
have been reclaimed by tilling in to deep water. A concrete quay wall 
570 meters long with two projecting jetties and a retaining sea wall 
126 meters long mark the shore line and afford ample berth for sailing 
vessels. Steamers are moored at three jetties constructed of iron 
screw piles that project from the sea wall. These are 10 meters wide 
and 55, 73, and 79 meters long, respective]}", and are covered in 
strong sheds that are open on the harbor side. Freight is loaded 
upon cars under these sheds, and thence transported to the ware¬ 
houses. On the shore side is a sheltered basin with an area of nearly 
one hectare, where lighters and small coasting craft are accommodated. 

Commerce.—During the last twenty years commerce has increased 
in such a manner that it sometimes taxes to its utmost the transporta¬ 
tion facilities of the railroads. The coasting trade with eastern and 
western ports of Venezuela has grown to such great proportions that 
the port is constantly busy and animated by the arrivals and sailings 
of foreign and coastwise vessels charging and discharging hundreds 
of tons of cargo. On the west is a railway leading to Maiquetia, 3 
kilometers distant, and the line to Caracas, and on the east the same 
railway connecting LaGuaira and Macuto, the Newport of Venezuela, 
where are located delightful sea and fresh water baths much fre¬ 
quented by the people of Caracas. 

The principal articles of commerce are coffee, cacao, beans, hides, 
skins, timber, and dyewoods, and its manufactures consist of furni¬ 
ture, cigars, soap, chocolate, leather, shoes, hats, etc. 

Cable terminus.—At La Guaira is located the shore end of the sub¬ 
marine cable that, via Curasao, Santo Domingo, and Cuba to Florida, 
places Venezuela in daily telegraphic communication with the outside 
world and with all the coast of both eastern and western points of 
Venezuela from Maracaibo to Ciudad Bolivar. 


110 


VENEZUELA. 


Forts.—There are two forts which were built by the Spaniards on 
the mountain slope high above the city r . One of them has recently 
been rebuilt and equipped with modern heavy artillery and accessories. 

PET ARE. 

The city of Petare, capital of the Sucre department of the Federal 
District, is located in the Caracas Valley, at the foot of the Silla Moun¬ 
tain, near the Guaire and the Caurimare rivers, abo.ut 11 kilometers 
east of Caracas. Its climate, like that of Caracas, is mild and genial. 
The population amounts to 6,311 inhabitants, and its chief articles of 
commerce are coffee, sugar, corn, and other cereals. This city was 
founded in 1701 by Cristobal Gil, and is connected with Caracas by 
railway, telegraph, and telephone. It also possesses public schools. 
Its manufactures consist of furniture, shoes, cigars, and candles. 


ISLAND OF MARGARITA. 

This island is included in the Federal District. It lies 38 kilometers 
off the coast of Venezuela, opposite the city of Cumana. It was dis¬ 
covered by Columbus in 1198 and settled by Marcelo de Villalobos in 
1521, under ro} T al grant from Charles V of Spain. The population is 
about 20,000, occupying two large tracts of territoiy, connected by a 
long isthmus 15 meters wide and 3 meters above the level of the sea. 
The soil is arid and unproductive and water springs are scarce, though 
the climate is remarkablv healthful. There are three small water 
courses in the island, upon the largest of which is located the city of 
Asuncion, the principal city of the island. This large stream runs over 
great beds of amphibolic schist, and is strongly impregnated with sul¬ 
phate of iron and magnesia. There are three ports on the island, the 
principal of which is Pampatar, on the southeast coast. Its commerce 
is tributary to La Guaira, and consists of fish, hats, tiles, excellent 
hammocks, and much fine embroidery and needlework. It is world 
renowned for its fine pearls, from which the island derives its name, 
and now a considerable trade is carried on in these articles. A great 
industry of the people is the fisheries on the neighboring islet of Coche, 
where man} T kinds of fish, including Spanish mackerel, red snappers, 
and mullet are caught in very great numbers and prepared for the 
various markets on the coast, as well as for Caracas and other interior 
cities of Venezuela. 

Sugar-cane products in 1901.—The following table shows thequantitv 
of domestic sugar-cane products brought into the Federal District 
from two of its departments during the year 1901, together with the 
classes of taxes paid thereon, expense incurred in collecting them, and 
the net receipts for the municipality: 



MUNICIPAL TAXATION. 


Ill 


Federal Dis¬ 
trict depart¬ 
ments. 


Libertador .. 


Vargas 


Class of products. 

Weights. 

Total. 

Rate of tax. 

Receipts, <* 

Brown sugar 6.... 

Sugar. 

Alcohol -21° c _ 

Alcohol -30° d _ 

Rum e . 

Brown sugar. 

Sugar. 

Alcohol (21°). 

Rum. 

Per load b . 

Per 100 pounds. 

Per 112 pounds net. 
Per 130 pounds net. 

Per 112 pounds net. 

Per load. 

Per 100 pounds. 

Per 112 pounds net. 
.do. 

847,945.25 
9,275.33 
34,553.00 
393.50 

98.25 
1,420.60 
1,346.44 
904. 75 
370.02 

40 cents per load. 

80 cents per 100 pounds 

81 per 112 pounds net. 
81.60 per 130 pounds 

net. 

82 per 112 pounds net. 

40 cents per load. 

80 cents per 100pounds 

81 per 112 pounds net. 

82 per 112 pounds net. 

819,178.10 
7,420.26 
34,553.00 
629.60 

196.50 
568.24 
7,420.26 
904.75 
740.04 

65, 267.64 
16,316.97 

48,950.67 

Gross receipts. 


Collecting ex¬ 
pense. 

Net receipts .. 












a United States currency. 

b Brown sugar (papeldn) load=64 pieces of 3§ pounds each. 
c Alcohol ‘21° (aguardiente) load=80 bottles weighing net 112 pounds. 
d Alcohol 30° (aguardiente) load=100 bottles weighing 130 pounds net. 
e Rum, load=80 bottles, weighing 112 pounds net. 


Tobacco brought into the Federal District in 1901.—The following 
table shows the quantity of domestic tobacco brought into the Federal 
District in 1901, together with taxes paid thereon, expense incurred 
in collecting it, and the net receipts for the municipality: 


Federal District 
departments. 

Date. 

Quantity. 

Rate of tax. 

Receipts.** 

Libertador. 

Vargas_ .. 

May 15 to Dec. 31. 

Aug. 15 to Dec. 31. 

Pounds. 
829,950 
496, 764 

82 per 100 pounds. 

.do. 

816,599.00 
9,935.28 

26,534. 28 

1,669. 60 

24,864.68 

Gross receipts 
Collecting ex- 
pense. 






Net receipts. 




! 



a United States currency. 


Municipal taxation on alcohol and tobacco.—A governmental decree, 
dated January 19, 1901, imposes certain taxes on alcoholic beverages 
and tobacco imported for consumption or distribution in the Federal 
District of Caracas. The duties leviable under this decree are as 
follows: 


Aguardiente: Bolivars. 

Per “load” of 80 bottles or 56 liters, of 51.52 kilos, weight, up to 21° 

Cartier. 20. 00 

Per “ load ” of 100 bottles or 70 liters, of 59.80 kilos, weight, from 22° to 

30° Cartier. 30. 00 

Rum, per “ load ” of whatsoever denomination or degree. 20. 00 

Brandy or cognac and whisky, per bottle. 1. 00 

Gin, sweet liquors, and anise, and the like, per bottle.75 

Alcohol, from 31° to 36° Cartier, per bottle.60 

Alcohol, from 37° Cartier, upward, per bottle. 1.00 

Wine, red or white, ordinary or fine, imported in bottles, per bottle.25 

Tobacco, in whatever form, imported from abroad, per 100 kilos. 5. 00 



































































112 


VENEZUELA. 


All persons importing the said alcoholic beverages or tobacco from 
abroad or from any State through the port of La Guaira, are to pre¬ 
sent to the custom-house at that port a manifest on which is to be 
declared the quantity, number of packages, the degree of spirits or 
alcohol, and the names of the importer and shipper and of the ship 
and captain. 

Goods imported into the Federal District in transit are to proceed to 
their destination within eight days, after the expiration of which they 
are to be considered as for consumption and become subject to duty. 
When a cargo of alcoholic beverages or tobacco imported in transit is 
introduced through the port of La Guaira, this fact must be stated in 
the manifest and the administrator of customs must certify if it is 
really in transit, having regard to the consular, invoice, if it comes 
from abroad, or to the shipping note if it comes from any State. 

The ordinance was to take effect from the date of its publication. 

National bureau of registration.—According to the law of registra¬ 
tion in force there exist in the capital of the Federal District and in 
that of every State of the Union a principal bureau of registration, and 
a subordinate office in the Federal District and in the chief city of each 
district of the States. The principal bureaus record titles or diplomas 
to law} T ers, doctors, engineers, the clergy, military and civil commis¬ 
sions, navigation licenses, patents, etc. The subaltern offices record 
deeds, powers of attorney, mercantile matters, settlements of estates, etc. 

Federal District courts.—Justice is administered in the Federal Dis¬ 
trict of Venezuela through a supreme court, a superior court, a civil 
court of the first instance, a court of commerce, a criminal court, a 
jury according to Title V of the Criminal Procedure Code, a district 
court, parish courts, and instruction courts, according to the Organic 
Code of the Federal District Courts enacted on May 25, 1899, as law 
number 7157. (See Compilation of Laws and Decrees of Venezuela, 
vol. 22, pp. 93-103.) 


INDEX TO CHAPTER III. 


Page. 

Territorial division. 97 

In the sixteenth century. 97 

In the seventeenth century. 97 

In the eighteenth century. 97 

In the nineteenth century. 97 

Present division. 97 

Districts. 98 

The States of the Union. 98 

Boundaries of States. 98 

Federal Territories. 98 

Federal district.•.. 98 

City of Caracas. 98 

Foundation of Caracas. 99 

Situation. 99 

Temperature.•. 99 

Climate. 99 

Area and plan of the city. 99 

Population from 1580 to 1881. 99 

Population in 1891. 99 

Population in 1894 . - 100 

Population in 1904 . 100 

Aspect of city. 100 

Principal squares. 100 

Bolivar Square. 100 

Washington Square. 101 

Miranda Square. 101 

Other squares. 101 

Principal buildings. 101 

Capitol buildings. 101 

National Pantheon. 101 

National Library. 102 

National Museum. 102 

Central University. 102 

Schools. 102 

Institutions of learning in 1904 (Federal District) (table). 102 

Academies. 103 

Masonic Temple. 103 

Hospitals. 103 

Churches. 103 

Independencia Park. 103 

Theaters.•. 104 

Amusements. 104 

4 a—04- 8 113 














































114 VENEZUELA. 

Principal buildings—Continued. Page. 

General market. 104 

Slaughterhouse. 104 

Railway stations. 104 

Tramway lines. 104 

Telegraph and cable offices. 104 

Telephone company. 104 

Cajigal Observatory. 105 

Banks. 105 

Board of health and municipal laboratory. 105 

Water supply. 105 

Bridges. 105 

Newspapers. 105 

Electric power plant. 105 

Industries.107 

Commerce. 107 

Caracas stock market. 107 

Value of real estate in 1870 (table)... ' 107 

Value of property 1904 (table). 108 

City of La Guaira. 108 

Port of La Guaira. 108 

Aspect of city. 108 

Improvements. 108 

Breakwater. 108 

Area of harbor. 109 

Commerce. 109 

Cable terminus. 109 

Forts. 110 

Petare. 110 

Island of Margarita.A. 110 

Sugar-cane products (Federal District), 1901. 110 

Tobacco (Federal District), 1901. Ill 

Municipal taxes on tobacco and alcohol. Ill 

National Bureau of Registration. 112 

Federal District courts. 112 




































CHAPTER IT. 


STATES AND FEDERAL TERRITORIES—RESOURCES, MEANS OF 
COMMUNICATION, POPULATION, TRADE, CAPITAL CITIES, AND 
PRINCIPAL TOWNS. 


POLITICAL DIVISION. 

The territory of the United States of Venezuela is divided into 
districts and Federal Territories. The districts are grouped and 
form the States. 

The Republic is composed of 13 States, 5 Federal Territories, and 
the Federal District. 


ORGANIZATION. 

The States are presided over by a President, appointed for three 
years, and in case of disability on his part two alternates, respectively 
called first and second vice-president, fill the vacancies that may occur. 
The Federal District and Federal Territories are presided over by 
governors, but the President of the Republic has power, according to 
sections 4 and 5 of article 75 of the constitution to administer both 
the Federal District and the Federal Territories. 

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF STATES. 

Rights.—The States which form the Venezuelan Union are self- 
governing and equal in political existence. (Const., art. 7.) 

All that is not especially ascribed by the constitution to the general 
administration remains within the jurisdiction of the States. (Const., 
art. 103.) 

The courts of justice of the States are independent and cases are 
only subject to the revision of the supreme Federal court as provided 
by law. (Const., art. 105.) 

The National Government shall not have other functionaries resid¬ 
ing in the States than those of public instruction and those required 
according to the organization that Congress may give to mines, public 
lands, salt mines, and tobacco and alcohol tax, and the forces in charge 
of fortresses, parks, naval stations, and open ports, who shall have 
jurisdiction regarding their respective functions and within the limits 

115 


116 


VENEZUELA. 


of those fortresses and armories, naval stations and open ports, sub¬ 
ject to the general rules of the respective States. (Const., art. 112.) 

Obligations.—1. To organize according to the principles of popular, 
elective, federal representative, alternative, and responsible govern¬ 
ment, and to decree their constitutions to establish rules for their gov¬ 
ernment according to the principles of the national constitution. 

2. To carry into execution the constitution and laws of the Union 
and the decrees, orders, and resolutions issued by the national author¬ 
ities according to the powers vested in them. 

3. To acknowledge, in their respective constitutions, that municipal 
authorities are independent from the political authorities of the State 
in matters economic and relative to administration, and therefore the 
districts shall be entitled to establish their system of revenue in con¬ 
formity with items 10, 11, 12, and 13. 

In cases of civil war or war with a foreign country the executive 
power of the State shall likewise assume the management of the dis¬ 
tricts within their jurisdiction authorized thereto by the respective 
legislative assembly and, if the latter is not in session, by their supreme 
court. 

4. To defend themselves against any aggression which may endanger 
their independence and the integrity of the nation. 

5. Not to alienate to any foreign power any portion of their terri¬ 
tory, nor to implore its protection, establish or cultivate political and 
diplomatic intercourse with other nations. 

6. Not to combine with or become allies of another nation nor to 
secede from Venezuela. 

7. To cede to the National Government the territory that may be 
necessary for the erection of forts, wharves, warehouses, shipyards, 
penitentiaries, and other buildings indispensable to the General Gov¬ 
ernment. 

8. To reserve to the National Government the administrations of the 
territories of Amazonas, Cristobal Colon, Colon, Delta Amacuro, and 
Yuruari, the latter having the right to ask to be admitted to the rank 
of State upon fulfillment of the conditions required b}^ article 4 of the 
constitution. 

9. To reserve to the Federal powers all legislative or executive 
jurisdiction concerning maritime, seacoast, and river navigation, 
wharves, and national roads, but the Federal powers can not levy taxes 
restricting navigation in rivers, lakes, and other navigable waters 
unless some special work has been required. Roads are national when 
leading from one State to another or from one State to the Federal 
District or Federal Territories. 

10. To not levy taxes on national export products. 

11. To not levy taxes on foreign products already burdened by 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



ENTRANCE TO THE COURT OF THE CAPITOL, CARACAS. 

















































OBLIGATIONS OF STATES. 


117 


national duties or exempted from them on cattle or any class of mer¬ 
chandise before being offered for consumption. 

12. To not prohibit the consumption of cattle and other articles of 
other States nor to levy taxes on them. 

10. To not establish custom-houses, as they can only be instituted 
by the National Government. 

11. To recognize the right of each State to dispose of its natural 
products according to law. 

15. To give faith to the public acts and judicial proceedings of other 
States and the Federal District and the Federal Territories and cause 
them to be complied with and executed. 

10. To organize its tribunals and courts which shall be ruled by one 
and the same laws in regard to civil, commercial, and criminal matters 
as well as in matters of procedure. 

17. lo concur according to law to form the supreme federal court. 

18. To abide by the decisions of the supreme federal court as 
supreme court of the federation and the States. 

19. To adopt the direct vote in choosing the members of the munici¬ 
pal councils, legislatures, and House of Representatives. 

20. Lo reserve to the nation the right to legislate in regard to 
superior public instruction. 

21. Not to impose obligations on national employees, except as citi¬ 
zens of the State. 

22. To furnish the proportional disarmed contingent for the public 
forces. 

23. To not permit in the States military conscription. 

21. To not declare or wage war, in any case, to each other, and to 
preserve strict neutrality in controversies between other States. 

25. To defer and submit to the supreme federal court all contro¬ 
versies among States which can not be settled amicably. 

26. To acknowledge the jurisdiction of the supreme federal court 
as supreme tribunal of the States to take cognizance of cases of treason 
or violation of the constitution and laws of the union. 

27. To consider as their only source of income—(1) the territorial tax 
of customs-houses; (2) the yield of mining, public lands, and salt mines, 
in the condition provided by law; (3) their share in the tobacco and 
alcohol revenue; (1) the taxes on their own natural products, and 
(5) the product of stamped paper. 

28. To authorize Congress to create and organize aforesaid revenue 
according to numbers 1, 2, and 3 of base 27 of the constitution. 

29. To keep distant from the frontier all political refugees, provided 
the respective State so requests it. (Const., art. 7.) 

Support of the States.—According to Executive decree of May 14, 
1904, the Government has assigned, as established by the constitution 


118 


VENEZUELA. 


in force, the monthly payment of sums for the support of the States, 
as follows: 


Aragua ... 
Bolivar... 
Bermudez 
Carabobo. 
Falcon ... 
Guarico .. 

Lara. 

Merida ... 
Miranda.. 
Tdchira... 
Trujillo... 
Zamora... 
Zulia_ 


Bolivars. 
24, 000 
12, 000 
40, 000 
30,000 
20, 000 
20, 000 
30, 000 
20, 000 
16, 000 
20, 000 
20, 000 
30, 000 
16, 000 


FEDERAL STATES AND PRINCIPAL CITIES. 


The names of the States of the Venezuelan Federation are: Aragua, 
Bermudez, Bolivar, Carabobo, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, 
Tachira, Trujillo, Zamora, and Zulia. 

ARAGUA STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Bruzual, Girardot, 
Marino, Ricaurte, Roscio, San Casimiro, San Sebastian, Urdaneta and 
Zamora. The principal cities are: 

La Victoria.—This city is the capital of the Aragua State. It was 
founded by Francis Loreto in 1593, has a population of 7,800 inhabi¬ 
tants, and is located in the fertile valley of Aragua, 175 meters above 
the level of the sea and 59 kilometers southwest of the city of Caracas. 
Its average annual temperature is 74° F. The staple articles of its 
commerce are coffee, sugar, cacao, beans, and all varieties of cereals. 
It has a factory for weaving narrow cotton cloths, besides manufac¬ 
tories of cigars, shoes, sandals, wagons, blank books, candles, soap, 
and fireworks. The city has a good system of public schools, tele¬ 
phonic and telegraphic service. 

Barbacoas.—This city is located on an elevated plain on the east 
bank of the Guarico River. On the north and east are hisrh, wooded 
mountains; on the west is the river, and on the south are broad and 
fertile fields. Its population amounts to 13,109 inhabitants, and the 
chief articles of commerce are cattle, hogs, goats, sugar, cheese, hides, 
skins, timber, medicinal plants, etc. Its manufactures consist of hats, 
sandals, baskets, pottery, hammocks, and leather. 

Ciudad de Cura.—This city is situated 90 kilometers nearly west of 
the city of Caracas and very near the lake of Valencia, Founded in 
1730 by Juan de Bplivar y Villegas, is located in a broad and beautiful 
valley formed by depressions in the Cordilleras, and lies between two 















ARAGUA STATE. 


119 


rivers, 487 meters above the level of the sea. Its average annual tem¬ 
perature is 80° F., and the population amounts to 12,198 inhabitants. 
The fine position it occupies and the proximity to the plains of Guarico 
render it one of the most important and advantageous centers of busi¬ 
ness. Its principal articles of commerce are coffee, cacao, and beans. 
Vast cattle farms in the vicinity produce large quantities of cheese, 
hides, etc. During the war of the independence, this city was the 
scene of various engagements, and was repeatedly occupied by the 
contending forces. In the suburbs is the village of La Puerta, where 
desperate encounters occurred, all of which were unfavorable to the 
Republican arms. The city is watered and lighted, has good tele¬ 
graphic service, and fine schools. There are two newspapers, various 
hotels, and manufactories of cigars, candles, soap, hats, and shoes. 

Maracay.—The city of Maracay, capital of the district of Girardot, 
was founded in the seventeenth century by Perez de Almarza, and is 
situated on a fine plain, on the banks of the Maracay River, near the 
northern shore of the lake of Valencia, 90 kilometers west of Caracas, 
and 450 meters above the level of the sea. Its mean annual tempera¬ 
ture is 74° F., and the population amounts to 7,500 inhabitants. Its 
principal articles of commerce consist of cattle, hogs, coffee, sugar, 
tobacco, and timber. Its manufactures are of little importance. 
Maracay is noted in the annals of the war of independence as the base 
of operations of the Venezuelan general, Miranda, and for the splen¬ 
did victory achieved there by McGergor over the Spaniards under 
Quero, in 1816. 

Ortiz.—The city of Ortiz, settled by an Indian cacique of that name, 
is located on the confines of the plains of the Guarico at the depression 
of the interior cordilleras, 112 kilometers nearly south of Caracas, and 
99 meters above the level of the sea. Its mean annual temperature is 
80° F., and the population amounts to 4,000 inhabitants. The staple 
articles of its commerce consist of cattle, horses, mules, hides, tobacco, 
and cheese. This city was burned during the war of independence, 
and near it, at Rincon de los Toros, General Bolivar barely escaped 
with his life on the night of April 16, 1818. 

San Mateo.—This city is situated on the right bank of the Aragua 
River on the declivity of a hill, a little more than 8 kilometers from the 
city of La Victoria. Its population amounts to 2,500 inhabitants, and 
its principal articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, cacao, beans, and 
cereals. This place is celebrated in the annals of the war of indepen¬ 
dence for its heroic defense by Bolivar against the Spanish under 
Boves, in 1814. When the Spanish stormed the fortress, the patriots 
were obliged to retire, but the patriot Ricaurte, remaining in the 
magazine until the royal troops thronged the fortress, threw his 
lighted cigar into a barrel of powder and hurled the fortress, his ene¬ 
mies, and himself to destruction. 


120 


VENEZUELA. 


BERMUDEZ STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Acosta, Aragua, Aris- 
mendi, Benitez, Bermudez, Bolivar, Bruzual, Cajigal, Cedeno, Frey- 
tes, Libertad, Mejias, Monagas, Montes, Pehalver, Piar, Rivero, Sucre, 
and Zaraza. 

Cumand.—This city is the capital of the Bermudez State. It was 
founded by Gonzalez Ocampo in 1520, forty-five years before St. Augus¬ 
tine, Fla., was settled, and eighty-seven years before the colonists 
landed at Jamestown, Ya., and is the oldest city on the continent of 
America. Some Spanish missionaries really landed there in 1512 and 
made a tentative effort to found a mission, but owing to the atrocities 
of the Spanish pirates, who were continually kidnapping the natives 
and selling them as slaves in the islands of Santo Domingo and Puerto 
Rico, the enraged Indians massacred all the whites on the coast. It 
was through the good offices of the philanthropic missionary Las 
Casas that the colony was finally established; and through the enlight¬ 
ened and prudent policy of its governors, who extended liberal pro¬ 
tection and patronage to its agriculture and commerce, Cumana became 
rich and prosperous and all classes of its inhabitants enjoyed prosper¬ 
ity. This city is located I kilometer distant from the Gulf of Cariaco, 
on the Mazanares River, which is the finest stream along the coast, 
between Trinidad and the Gulf of Maracaibo, and a tramway and good 
level road lead from the city to the port. It is situated 16 meters 
above the level of the sea. Its mean annual temperature is 83° F., 
and the population amounts to 10,000 inhabitants. Its chief articles 
of commerce are coffee, beans, sugar, hides, and tobacco. The fruits 
in the vicinity, especially grapes and pineapples, are remarkable for 
their size and flavor. 

The Gulf of Cariaco, on which the port is situated, is 67 kilometers 
long and 11 kilometers wide, and the shores, rising gradually on either 
side, present a fine landscape of luxuriant vegetation and good cultiva¬ 
tion. It is a great resort for pelicans, herons, flamingoes, and other 
aquatic fowls. The natives, to catch them, cast numbers of large 
gourds into the waters. After a time these cease to attract the notice 
of the fowls, when, fitting gourds pierced with holes over their heads, 
they swim out among the unsuspecting birds, drag them under the 
water, and fasten them in their belts. The waters of the gulf abound 
with different kinds of fishes. On the north side of the gulf, opposite 
Cumana, is Ara} r a Point, once strongly fortified by the Spanish. In 
its vicinity are extensive mines of pure rock salt, owned and worked 
by the Government. Valuable springs of petroleum are also found 
in the locality. 

Barcelona.—Barcelona was founded in 1671 by the Spanish explorer 
Fernandez de Angulo, and is located on a spacious plain on the Neveri 
River, 1 kilometers from the Caribbean coast and 12 meters above the 
level of the sea. Its mean annual temperature is 82° F., and the popu- 


121 


BEKMUDEZ STATE. 

lation amounts to 12,758 inhabitants. Its chief articles of commerce 
consist of coffee, sugar, beans, timber, dyewoods, and cereals. It 
possesses good educational institutions, and is connected by telegraph 
with all points of the Republic. It is connected by railway with the 
new and commodious port of Guanta, 19 kilometers distant. The city 
and surrounding country is very healthy. Nineteen kilometers from 
Barcelona are the important coal deposits of Naricual and Capiricual. 
Its chief articles of commerce consist of sugar cane, timber, medicinal 
plants, and cereals. Its manufactures comprise cotton cloths, ham¬ 
mocks, ropes, straw hats, pottery, soap, and rum. 

Aragua de Barcelona.—This city is located near a large forest on the 
banks of the Aragua River, 112 meters above the level of the sea, and 
75 kilometers south of Barcelona. Its mean annual temperature is 
77° F., and the population amounts to 12,000 inhabitants. 

Carupano.—An important port, situated on the Caribbean Sea, lies at 
the opening of two beautiful valleys, and is watered by two tine streams. 
It is 7 meters above the sea level, and the mean annual temperature is 
81 w F. The climate, though warm, is remarkably salubrious. The 
population amounts to 11,500 inhabitants. Large quantities of superior 
cacao beans are exported from this port, the bulk of which goes to 
France. Its other staple articles of commerce consist of coffee, sugar, 
cotton, timber, dyewoods, and furniture woods. Its manufactures com¬ 
prise straw hats, grass ropes, pottery, soap, sugar, and tine rum. The 
port is regularly visited by steamships from Europe and New York, 
and its commerce has assumed considerable importance. The vicinity 
is quite rich in minerals, among which are found gold, silver, lead, 
sulphur, lime,«and gypsum. 

Cumanacoa.—Situated in the interior, about 72 kilometers southeast 
of Cumana, on the Manzanares River, is very healthy and possesses a 
mild and agreeable temperature. Cacao and beans are the principal 
products of the vicinity. Near it are located fine Epsom salt springs. 
Forty-eight kilometers farther south, at the base of the Bergantm 
Mountains, is a famous grotto, in which are millions of nocturnal 
birds called guacliaros that fill the cave with their plaintive cries. 
They are valued for their fat, and their guano is an excellent fertilizer. 

Guanta.—Guanta is situated on the Caribbean Sea, 19 kilometers 
nearly north of Barcelona, and has an excellent harbor, horseshoe 
shaped, the entrance being 609 meters (2,000 feet) wide, and protected 
on the sea side by an island kilometers distant. It is sheltered from 
all points on the land side by high hills rising abruptly from the water. 
The entrance is easy and safe from east and west, with plenty of 
water, and within is fine anchorage for vessels of large tonnage; the 
shore lines are 8 to 10 meters deep, so that vessels of any draft may 
without dfficulty lie close in to the iron wharf. The custom-house 
is a large building substantially constructed of stone. The port of 
Guanta is situated 61° 57' 15" to the west of the Greenwich longitude 


122 


Venezuela: 


and 10° 15' 5" of latitude north. The wharf has an area of 4,200 
square meters. The climate is warm but no contagious diseases are 
prevalent. This port has been improved by a company of foreign 
capitalists, and a railway via Barcelona to the coal deposits of Nari- 
cual and Capiricual, 38 kilometers distant, has also been constructed. 
The advantages of this new port are such that it has taken away all 
the trade formerly tributary to the old port of Barcelona. To the 
east of Guanta lie the smaller West Indian islands, to the north the 
larger, and to the west the island of Curasao and the principal ports 
of Venezuela. The distance of Guanta from the islands and Venezue¬ 
lan ports is the following: 321 miles from the island of Trinidad, 482 
from St. Vincent, 325 from Grenada, 514 from Santa Lucia, 563 from 
Barbados, 547 from Martinique, 579 from Santo Domingo, 643 from 
Guadaloupe, 804 from St. Thomas, 804 from Puerto Rico, 225 from La 
Guaira, 354 from Puerto Cabello, and 466 from Curasao. The princi¬ 
pal products are sugar cane, coffee, cacao, bananas, cassava, corn, 
fruit, etc. The port of Guanta is one of the principal centers in Vene¬ 
zuela for the exportation of live stock. 

Rio Caribe. —Is situated near the Caribbean coast, 337 kilometers 
east of Caracas and 4 meters above the sea level. The port is one of 
the best on the coast. Its average annual temperature is 84° F., and 
the population amounts to 6,000 inhabitants. Its staple articles of 
commerce are coffee, cacao, beans, sugar, timber, dyewoods, and 
cereals. Its manufactures consist of pottery, ropes, sugar, and rum. 
In the vicinity are found deposits of lime, sulphur, and asphalt. 

MATURIN SECTION. 

% 

Geographical position.— The section is situated in the eastern region 
of the Republic. It is bounded on the north by the former Sucre 
State; on the south by the Orinoco River; on the east by the Vagre 
Canal, Gulf of Paria, and part of the former Sucre State; and on the 
west by the former Barcelona State. 

Area and population. —The area of the section is 34,036 square kilo¬ 
meters and the population 74,503 inhabitants, according to the official 
census of 1891. 

Climate. —The mean temperature is from 25° to 32° C., rising some¬ 
times to 34°, but there are cold places, such as Caripe and San Agustin, 
where the the thermometer falls to 15°. 

General Aspect. —Two-thirds of the territory consists of plains cov¬ 
ered with pasture, and one-third is represented by the forestry and 
agricultural zones. 

Agricultural products. —The staple products are coffee, tobacco, sugar 
cane, cacao, cassava, and cereals. According to the census of 1891 
there were 848 coffee plantations, 240 sugar-cane plantations, 7,000 
cereal plantations, and 35 cacao plantations. 


123 


MATURIN SECTION. 

Pastoral zone.—Two-thirds of the territory consists of land devoted 
to stock raising. There are over 40 ranches, where 40,000 head of 
cattle graze. The pastoral products consist principally in the com¬ 
merce of horned cattle and cheese. 

Mines.—There are asphalt, iron, sulphur, alum, petroleum, marble, 
and copperas mines, and a salt deposit near Pedernales. None of the 
asphalt mines is being worked. 

Industrial products.—These products consist of hammocks made of 
moriche and curagua, palm and straw hats, fiber and horsehair rope, 
cigars, soap, sandals, dressed hides, shoes, tallow candles, and every¬ 
thing pertaining to saddlery. 

Orography.—The coast range of the former Sucre State branches off 
toward the interior, forming ten peaks, which attain an altitude of 
1,000 to 1,500 meters above the sea level. 

Hydrography.—The maritime coasts extend from the mouth of the 
Vagre Canal to the right margin of the mouth of the Guarapiche 
River. The section is crossed by 65 rivers and about 14 rivulets. The 
principal rivers are the Orinoco, the Guanipa, with a course of 70 
leagues; the Tigre, with 72; the Guarapiche, with 54; the Morichal 
Largo, with 52; the Amana, the Oroacoa, and San Juan, which formed 
part of the limits of the former Sucre State. 

Ports.—There are three ports, that of Barrancas, on the left margin 
of the Orinoco; Buja, on the maritime coast of the State, and Cano- 
Colorado, on the left bank of the Guarapiche, about 93 kilometers from 
the sea. 

Eluvial communication.—This consists of the Orinoco to the south; 
the Guarapiche, from its mouth to the city of Maturin; the San Juan, 
from its mouth on the Guarapiche to the Colon municipality, the prin¬ 
cipal town of which is Caripito. 

Means of communication.—The means of communication consist of the 
road from Maturin to Curnana, which gives access to thirteen towns 
and villages, and several other roads to the south and east of the section. 

Commercial movement.—Imports are from La Guaira, Caracas, Puerto 
Cabello, Trinidad, United States, France, Germany, and Great Britain, 
and amount to about $80,000 a year, and the exports amount to $100,000 
a year. 

Population. 



Houses. 

Inhabit¬ 

ants. 


Houses. 

Inhabit¬ 

ants. 

Maturin. 

958 

4,358 

Aguasay. 

122 

358 

Caicara. 

152 

'900 

San Francisco. 

50 

280 

A ragua. 

70 

587 

Chaguaramal. 

52 

290 

Caripe.i. 

G7 

580 

Guacharacas. 

40 

260 

Areo. 

77 

518 

Santa Barbara. 

49 

259 

Punceres. 

29 

97 

Hueva Tabasca. 

67 

246 

TJracoa. 

85 

485 

Guanaguana. 

53 

247 

Barrancas . 

138 

454 

Caripito. 

40 

230 

Boqucron . 

64 

427 

Cano-Colorado. 

36 

163 

San Antonio. 

89 

497 

San F61ix. 

17 

107 













































124 


VENEZUELA. 


City of Maturm.—This city consists of 958 houses and has a popula¬ 
tion of 4,358 inhabitants. It has several public buildings and offices, two 
colleges, four schools, a board of public instruction, post and telegraph 
office, etc. It is located on the Guarapiche River, 35 kilometers above 
the port of Caho-Colorado on the same river, and near the Gulf of 
Paria. Its mean annual temperature is 82° F., and its chief articles of 
commerce consist of cattle, coffee, chocolate, beans, and cereals. 

This city is noted in the annals of the war of independence for its 
heroic defense against the Spaniards, who three times attacked it and 
were twice disastrously repulsed and finally destroyed, the Spanish 
commander, Monteverde, barely escaping capture. 

BOIifVAR STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Cedeno, Heres, Inde- 
pendencia, Miranda, Sotillo, Sucre, and Tadeo Monagas, and is bounded 
on the north by the States of Miranda, Bermudez, and Zamora; on the 
south by the territories of Amazonas and Yuruari; on the east by the 
Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by the former territory of Alto 
Orinoco and the Republic of Colombia. Its area is of 229,733 square 
kilometers, and the population amounts to 60,097 inhabitants. 

Ciudad Bolivar.—This city, the capital of the State, was founded b}^ 
Mendoza in 1764, and is situated on the right bank of the Orinoco 
River, 600 kilometers from its mouth and 56 meters above the level 
of the sea. Its mean temperature is 83° F., and the population 
amounts to 11,686 inhabitants. Its principal articles of commerce 
are cattle, horses, mules, cheese, tobacco, tonka beans, cacao, coffee 
copaiba, rubber, sarsaparilla, bitters, timber, and dyewoods. This 
city^ was formerl} T called Angostura, owing to the narrows of the river 
at that point, where it is but 731 meters wide; but in 1846 it received 
its present name in honor of Gen. Simon Bolivar. Among the public 
edifices worthy of note are the Federal College, the cathedral, thea¬ 
ter, masonic temple, hospital, and custom-house. In the Bolivar 
Park are many tropical plants and flowers, besides a statue of Bolivar, 
surrounded by statues representing Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Peru, and Bolivia. The city has also a good aqueduct, and manufac¬ 
tories of ceramics, candles, soap, brooms, ice, and aerated waters. It 
is the seat of a bishopric, established in 1790 by Pope Pius VI. 

During the war of independence, the first patriot journal in Vene¬ 
zuela was established in this city, and here assembled the renowned 
Congress of Angostura, which decreed the creation of the Republic of 
Colombia in 1813. The patriot forces under Monagas and Cedeno 
suffered a severe defeat here in 1815, but the Spanish forces under 
Delatorre were in turn routed by Piar in 1816. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



CIUDAD BOLIVAR—VIEW ACROSS THE ORINOCO RIVER. 










CARABOBO STATE. 


125 


CARABOBO STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Bejuma, Falcon, Gua- 
cara, Montalban, Nirgua, Ocumare, Puerto Cabello, and Valencia. 

Area and population.—Carabobo is the smallest State of the Vene¬ 
zuelan Federal Union. Its largest extension from east to west is 112 
kilometers and its extreme length from north to south is 80 kilo¬ 
meters. Its area is 7,732 square kilometers, and the population is 
estimated at 130,000 inhabitants. 

Boundaries.—Its boundaries are, to the north the Caribbean Sea, 
to the east the States of Aragua and Guarico, to the west the Lara 
State, and to the south the Zamora State. 

Agricultural zone.—Toward the north this zone produces coffee, 
cacao, and the cocoanuts, and by-products of the cocoa trees. Toward 
the interior the products of the mountain lands are principally 
coffee and cereals. The valleys and vicinities of the Valencia Lake 
produce sugar cane in abundance, out of which sugar, brown sugar, 
and alcohol are manufactured, and meet the consumption of the Cara¬ 
bobo and Aragua States and part of that of Caracas. 

Pastoral zone.—To the east and south lie immense plains always 
covered with abundant pasturage, where a considerable number of 
live stock is raised. Puerto Cabello is the principal export port for 
live stock. 

Natural products.—There is a great variety of natural products— 
medicinal and d}^eing plants, timber, gums, resins, etc. There are no 
regular rubber-tree forests, but everywhere these trees are found. 

Manufacturing industries.—These are represented by the great 
cotton-goods manufactory of Valencia by tanneries, breweries, and 
shoe, cigar, cigarette, textile, hat, carriage, chocolate, and other 
manufactories. 

Mining.—Many gold, silver, copper, iron, and other mines have 
been denounced. Only the marble quarries of Valencia and Gahango 
are being worked. 

Commerce.—The import and export commerce of Carabobo is esti¬ 
mated at over $3,000,000 a year. 

Valencia.—The city of Valencia, the capital of the State of Cara¬ 
bobo and one of the most important centers of the Republic, is situ¬ 
ated 3 kilometers from the western shore of the lake of Valencia, 55 
meters above the level of the sea, and has a mean annual temperature 
of 77° F. It was founded in 1555 by Moreno, and has a population of 
nearly 40,000 inhabitants. It is regularly laid out and substantially 
built, and is surrounded in all directions by fine plantations, where are 
grown in abundance all the chief products of the Torrid Zone. Good 
roads lead to Puerto Cabello, San Carlos, Nirgua, Cura, Villa de Caracas, 
and other points, and it is connected by railway with Caracas and 
with the seaport Puerto Cabello. It has a good telephone service and 


126 


VENEZUELA. 


is in communication with all the Republic of Venezuela and Colombia 
by telegraph. It is lighted by electricity, abundantly supplied with 
good water, and has a university and numerous public and private 
institutions of learning. It is of great importance as a commercial 
center, and the staple articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, rum, 
cattle, hides, and agricultural products. Its manufactures consist 
of cotton cloths and yarns from the important manufactory existing 
in the city, of iron castings, agricultural machinery, stills, furni¬ 
ture, leather, shoes, hats, cigars, chocolate, macaroni, alcohol, soap, 
and candles. Its chief public places are the cathedral, Capitol, 
national college, and market house. It also has several handsome 
parks, the principal of which are the Plaza Bolivar, Pena, Avenida 
Camoruco, and El Calvario. In 1561 the city was visited by the 
famous pirate Aguirre and his sanguinary band, who perpetrated 
great atrocities upon the inhabitants. Upon the breaking out of the 
war with Spain, Valencia was designated as the capital of Venezuela, 
and Congress was in session there when Caracas was destroyed b} r 
an earthquake in 1812. It was heroically defended in 1814 against 
the Spanish forces under Ceballos, who besieged it, and the flower of 
its youth valiently shared in the decisive victory of the Venezuelan 
army on the plains of Carabobo. It was again besieged by the royal 
forces under Boves in the fall of 1814, and was desperately and suc¬ 
cessfully defended. 

The fine topographical location of Valencia, its delightful climate, 
and the splendid agricultural resources that are tributary to it, give 
to it an importance second to no other place in Venezuela. Valencia 
possesses a good street-car service and several places of amusement. 

Montalban.—This city is located at the foot of a hill on the Montal¬ 
ban River, 48 kilometers southwest of the city of Valencia and 72 
meters above the sea level. It was settled in the seventeenth century 
by a colony of Spaniards from Montalban of Aragon (Spain). It has 
a mean annual temperature of 73° F., and the population amounts to 
7,500 inhabitants. The surrounding country is extremely fertile, and 
in the past century was devoted, under the direction of the noted 
Father Isla, to the raising of stock and the growing of wheat and 
indigo. Coffee was planted in Montalban, as a trial, by Pinto and 
Ortega in 1813. The results were so satisfactory that other industries 
were abandoned and Carabobo has now become one of the principal 
coffee-growing sections of Venezuela. Coffee and sugar form the 
most important articles of commerce. 

Nirgua.—This city was founded by Meneses y Padilla in 1628, is 
located on a high, picturesque plain, surrounded by hills, near the 
Buria River, 762 meters above the sea level and 59 kilometers south¬ 
west of Valencia. Its mean annual temperature is 71° F. The popu- 


CARABOBO STATE. 


127 


lation is 8,391 inhabitants. The staple articles of commerce are coffee, 
cacao, beans, sugar, rum, cotton, lumber, and cereals. Nirgua is 
situated in a rich mineral region. In the vicinity are two valuable 
copper mines, beside which are found extensive deposits of sulphur, 
copperas, red and yellow ochre, coal, talc, and feldspath. These 
mines were formerly worked by the Spanish. 

Ocumare.—It is located near the Caribbean coast and about 30 kilo¬ 
meters east of Puerto Cabello, and lies in a fertile valley on the 
Ocumare River. It was settled in 1731 and has 7,493 inhabitants. 
Its climate is warm, but the breezes that constantly blow from the sea 
moderate the heat and give a healthy and agreeable temperature. 
The principal articles of commerce are coffee, cacao, beans, sugar, cat¬ 
tle, and cereals. It is the center of a large tract of country that is 
world renowned for its exceptionally fine qualit} r of cacao. Here 
Bolivar landed with a small band of revolutionists in 1816. 

Puerto Cabello.—This important port is situated on the Caribbean 
Sea, about 104 kilometers west of La Guaira. Its mean annual tem¬ 
perature is 80° F., and the population amounts to 14,000 inhabitants. 
Through this port are exported the products of the States of Carabobo, 
Lara, Zamora, and a part of the Tachira and Trujillo States, consisting 
chiefly of coffee, cacao, beans, cotton, tobacco, hides, skins, timber, 
and dyewoods. This city possesses several handsome buildings and 
parks and is well lighted and supplied with good water. The custom¬ 
house, lately' constructed of materials imported from the United States, 
is an extensive and costly structure, and is the best building for the 
purpose in Venezuela. The city has several churches and various 
public and private institutions of learning. The name of Puerto 
Cabello, signif}dng hair port, was given to it by the Spanish, who 
were wont to say' that in its placid waters a vessel could be moored 
with a hair. It was often subjected to attacks from the Dutch pirates 
from the neighboring island of Curasao, and to resist their incursions 
it was well fortified by the Spanish. In the last century it was suc¬ 
cessfully defended against the attack of a British fleet under Commo¬ 
dore Knowles. During the war of independence the Spanish prisoners 
confined in the castle surprised and captured the stronghold. In 1823 
the Spanish commander, Calzada, was in turn surprised in a night 
attack by patriots under the renowned leader, Paez, and compelled to 
surrender. This was the last conflict between the contending armies 
during the war of independence. 

Tinaquillo.—This city r , in the section of Cojedes, is situated in the 
plains of Taguanes, and has a population of 4,500 inhabitants. It is 
a point of considerable importance and carries on a large and prosperous 
trade in coffee, sugar, and starch. In the vicinity are found deposits 
of iron, opals, and manganese. 


128 


VENEZUELA. 


FAIiC^N STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Acosta, Bolivar, 
Bnchivacoa, Colina, Democracia, Falcon, Federacion, Miranda, Petit, 
Urdaneta, and Zamora. 

Coro.—This city is the capital of the State and was founded by 
Ampies in 1527. It is one of the oldest settlements on the continent 
of America, and was until 1576 the capital of the Province of Vene¬ 
zuela. It is located 321 kilometers west of the city of Caracas, near 
the Caribbean coast, 32 meters above the level of the sea. Its mean 
annual temperature is 81° F., and the population amounts to 9,000 
inhabitants. The principal articles of commerce are coffee, cacao, 
tobacco, castor beans, timber, and dyewoods, but by far the most 
important product is goatskins, of which vast quantities are exported 
and sold as Curasao skins. Among its manufactures are soap, cigars, 
chewing tobacco, candles, castor oil, hammocks, and pack thread. 
Coro was the most important colony founded by the Spanish, from 
which point numerous expeditions were sent out to reduce to submis¬ 
sion the natives of the country. It is also celebrated as the spot where 
the first effort was made for the liberty of Venezuela, where Miranda 
unsuccessfully battled with the royal forces, and where at last was 
achieved a splendid victory by the patriot army. 

Cabudare.—Is located a few kilometers southeast of Coro, in the low 
country. Its population amounts to 4,000 inhabitants. The chief 
articles of commerce consist of coffee, cacao, beans, timber, and agri¬ 
cultural products. 

Capatdrida.—Located on the Gulf of Maracaibo; is the emporium 
of a section of country that is noted for raising tobacco of fine qualit} T . 
Its mean annual temperature is 86° F., and the population amounts to 
2,000 inhabitants. 

gtjArico state. 

This State consists of the following districts: Achaguas, Infante, 
Miranda, with the municipality “El Calvario,” Munoz, and San 
Fernando. 

Calabozo.—This old city, in the plains of Guarico, is the capital of 
the State. It was founded by the Guipuzcoan Company, under grant 
from the Spanish Crown, in 1730, as a barrier to the incursions of the 
hostile Indians, who frequently attacked the religious missions in the 
vicinity. It is situated on the southern border of the plains of Guarico, 
on the left bank of the Guarico River, 99 meters above the sea level 
and 199 kilometers nearly south of Caracas. The average annual 
temperature is 80° F., and although warm it is a very healthy climate. 
Its principal articles of trade are lumber, hides, cheese, skins, ham¬ 
mocks, cattle, horses, mules, and liquors. Much of its commerce is 
carried on by water with points on the Guarico, Portuguesa, Orituco, 


LARA STATE. 


129 


Apure, and Apurito rivers. The population, by the late census, 
amounts to 5,618 inhabitants. The city has nine institutions of learn¬ 
ing and there are also published there several newspapers and 
periodicals. 

Camagudn.—This city is situated on a plain on the left bank of the 
Portuguesa River. Its population amounts to 3,648 inhabitants. 
The most important staples of its trade are cattle, hides, skins, fish, 
cheese, tobacco, liquors, and bricks. It was settled by Capuchin mis¬ 
sionaries in the seventeenth century. Near the city is a remarkable 
lake with an area of 38 kilometers, formed by the overflow of the 
large rivers called Portuguesa and Apure and of the Apurito River, 
the latter being navigable during the wet season and extends to the 
towns south of the Guarico and west of the Portuguesa River, together 
with those of Guayana, Apure, and Barinas. In the dry season its 
water entirely disappears, when its bed serves to remind the traveler 
of scenes in lower Egypt. 

Guayabal.—This city, founded by Capuchin Fathers in 1785, has 
3,146 inhabitants and is situated in a plain on the east bank of a small 
tributary of the Guarico River. Its most important articles of trade 
are cattle, hides, skins, sugar, cheese, palm oil, tobacco, honey, and 
bricks. The place is celebrated in the annals of the war of independ¬ 
ence for several defeats sustained there by the Spaniards in 1813 and 
1816, during which epoch it was destroyed by fire. 

Zaraza.—This cit} T is located in the plains of Guarico, on the Unare 
River, to which point the river is navigable during the wet season. 
It is 1,158 kilometers southeast of Caracas. The climate, though 
warm, is healthy, and the population amounts to 14,546 inhabitants. 
The principal articles of commerce are cattle, wool, tobacco, and 
cereals. 

LARA STATE 

This State consists of the following districts: Barquisimeto, Bru- 
zual, Cabudare, Crespo, Quibor, San Felipe, Silva, Sucre, Tocuyo, 
Torres, Urachiche, and Yaritagua. 

Barquisimeto.—This city, the capital of the State, formerly called 
Nueva Segovia, was founded by Villegas in 1552, and is located 259 
kilometers west of Caracas, at an altitude of 518 meters above the 
level of the sea. It is situated in a spacious plain, where the roads 
leading to the Tachira, Trujillo, and Merida States branch to the sec¬ 
tions Yaracuy and Portuguesa. Its average annual temperature is 
77 J F., and the population amounts to 31,476 inhabitants. Its chief 
articles of commerce are coffee, cacao, beans, sugar, and rum. Its 
manufactures consist of grass sacks, ropes, and hammocks. Here 
entered the Spanish pirate Aguirre in 1561, who was killed a short 
time afterwards, in October of the same year. Lopez de Aguirre, an 
audacious robber, spread terror throughout South America about the 
middle of the sixteenth century, during the civil wars in Peru between 


4a—04-9 



130 


VENEZUELA. 


the partisans of Pizarro and Almagro. lie had been sent by the vice¬ 
roy, Gonzalez Pizarro, to explore the country and navigation of the 
river Amazon, under the command of Don Pedro d'Orsua. The ban¬ 
dits who composed this expedition murdered Orsua because he was a 
person of morality and a strict disciplinarian. They proclaimed 
Aguirre their chief and gave him the title of king. After having 
ravaged New Granada and the island of Trinidad he landed at Marga¬ 
rita and murdered many distinguished persons. Thence he sailed 
westward and landed at Borburata, on the Venezuelan coast, near 
Puerto Cabello, where he destroyed his ships and began his march 
overland to Bogota, leaving a track of murder and destruction in his 
path. At Barquisimeto, however, he was brought to bay by the 
royal troops, when his followers, tired of his cruelty and accepting the 
royal clemency, deserted him. The patriotic army was decimated in 
Barquisimeto hy the earthquake that destroyed Caracas in 1812, and 
the Spanish troops soon after occupied the cit\ T . The patriots also 

V 

suffered defeat here on November 10, 1813. Owing to its temperate 
climate and fertile soil, the surrounding country is well adapted to 
wheat growing, and large crops of this grain are raised here. All 
other cereals are also produced in abundance. The important topo¬ 
graphical position of Barquisimeto makes it the center of a large and 
flourishing trade. 

Carora.—Founded by Salamanca in 1572, is situated on the Carora 
River, 321 kilometers west of Caracas and 31R meters above the sea 
level. Its mean annual temperature is 82° F., and the population 
amounts to 6,000 inhabitants. Its chief articles of commerce are 
coffee, hides, and agricultural products. 

Tocuyo.—Founded by Carvajal in 1515, is located 61 kilometers 
southwest of Barqisimeto, and is situated on the Tocuyo River, in an 
extensive valley 621 meters above the level of. the sea. Its mean 
annual temperature is 79° F., and the population amounts to 15,383 
inhabitants. Its principal articles of commerce are coffee, hides, wool, 
skins, sugar, rum, and Peruvian bark. In the vicinity are mines of 
silver, copper, iron, lead, bismuth, and antimony. The soil is very 
fertile and much wheat is grown in this locality. There are also 
extensive tanneries in and near the city. 

Yaritagua.—Is located 33 kilometers east of the city of Barquisimeto, 
and is situated on a extensive plain 313 meters above the sea level. Its 
mean annual temperature is 79 c F., and the population is 12,000 inhab¬ 
itants. Its chief articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, tobacco, and 
cereals. There are several cigar manufactories in the city. 

MERIDA STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Campo-Elias, Liberta- 
dor, Miranda, Pedraza, Rangel, Rivas Davila, Sucre, Torondoy, and 
Tovar. 


MIRANDA STATE. 


131 


Merida. —The city of Merida, the capital of* the State, was founded 
by Rodriguez de Suarez in 1558 and is situated at the foot of the Sierra 
Nevada Mountains, on an elevated plain near the Chama River. From 
its site is observed a panorama of natural beauty, such as is rarely seen 
in any country. It is located -198 kilometers southwest of Caracas and 
1,615 meters above the level of the sea. Its mean annual temperature 
is 61° F., and the population amounts to 12,018 inhabitants. The 
staple articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, cacao, beans, lumber, 
rice, wheat, and other cereals. Its manufactures consist of hats, grass 
sacks, wool blankets, artificial flowers, castor oil, and candles. In the 
vicinity are located mines of sesqui, carbonate of soda, coal, copper, 
and petroleum. Merida is the seat of an university established in 
1810, and was created a bishopric by Pope Pius VI in 1775. 


MIRANDA STATE. 


This State consists of the following districts: Acevedo, Brion, Lan¬ 
der, Monagas, Paez, Paz Castillo, Plaza, Urdaneta, and Zamora. 

Its principal sources of wealth are agriculture and live stock. It 
embraces parts of the agricultural and pastoral zones of Venezuela 
and is one of the richest regions of the Torrid Zone. 


Ocumare. —This city is the capital of the State. Its original name 
was Sabana de Ocumare. Founded by the Spanish in 1693, it lies in 
the Tuy Valley, near the Tuy River, 49 kilometers southeast of Car¬ 
acas and 213 meters above the sea level. Its mean annual temperature 
is 79° F., and its population amounts to 9,000 inhabitants. The chief 
articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, pease, beans, etc. In 1814, 
during the war of independence, this city was subjected to cruel atroci¬ 
ties by the Spanish chief Rosete, who dragged the citizens from altars 
of the church, where they had fled for refuge, and put them to death. 

Charayave. —This city is situated 35 kilometers south of the city of 
Caracas, in the famous Tuy Valley, and has a population of 5,700 inhab¬ 


itants. It was founded by the Spaniards in 1681 under the auspices 
of Santa Rosa de Lima, and was principally inhabited by friendly 
Indians, devoted to agriculture, who were brought there by the Capu¬ 
chin fathers from various localities. The patriot troops, under Gen¬ 
eral Ribas, captured the city from the Spanish forces on February 20, 


1814. 


Cua. —The city of Cua, so called in honor of the Indian cacique who 
formerly dwelt there, is situated 40 kilometers south of Caracas, near 
the Tuy River. Its chief articles of trade consist of coffee, cacao, 
beans, and sugar. The population amounts to 9,209 inhabitants. 

Rio Chico. —This city is located near the Tuy River, 6 kilometers 
from the Caribbean Sea, at 8 meters above the sea level and 109 kilo¬ 
meters southeast of Caracas. Its mean annual temperature is 82 : F., 
and the population amounts to 4,000 inhabitants. Its port, Carenero, 


132 


VENEZUELA. 


32 kilometers distant, with which it is connected by railway, is located 
near Cape Codera, and is commodious and safe. There are two 
deposits of coal near the city. Its commerce, which is important 
and flourishing, is carried on with La Guaira by means of coastwise 
steamers that make triweekly voyages. There is communication by 
telegraph with all parts of the Republic. The staple articles of com¬ 
merce are coffee, cacao, beans, hides, and all classes of cereals. Its 
manufactures consist of shoes, candles, and soap. 

San Casimiro.—This cit} 7 is located southeast of Valencia and 67 
kilometers south of Caracas. Its population amounts to 8,000 inhab¬ 
itants. Its chief articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, and cereals. 
In the vicinity is a valuable deposit of lime, and also sulphur and 
chalybeate springs. 

tAchira state. 

This State consists of the following districts: Ayacucho, Bolivar, 
Cardenas, Castro, Junin, La Grita, Lobatera, Paez, with the munici¬ 
palities of Elorza, San Cristobal, and Uribante. 

San Cristobal.—This city 7 is the capital of the Tachira State. It was 
founded in 1561 by Maldonado, and is situated on a high tableland 
near the Torbeo River, about 65 kilometers from the boundary between 
Venezuela and Colombia, and 911 meters above the level of the sea. 
Its average annual temperature is 70° F., and the population amounts 
to 11,000 inhabitants. Its principal articles of commerce are coffee, 
cacao, sugar, tobacco, rice, and vanilla beans. In the vicinity are 
located mines of silver, copper, iron, coal, and petroleum. Near the 
city is the village where Bolivar issued his first proclamation previous 
to the campaign of 1813. 

La Grita.—Founded in 1576, by Caseres, is situated on a high table¬ 
land, about 90 kilometers from the boundary between Venezuela and 
Colombia, and 1,193 meters above the level of the sea. Its average 
annual temperature is 66° F., and the population amounts to 10,500 
inhabitants. Its staple articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, tobacco, 
rice, wheat, barley, and other cereals. In the vicinity are found mines 
of copper, coal, and alabaster. The place is celebrated in the annals of 
the independence for the victory achieved there by the patriots over 
the royal troops in 1813. 

Tariba.—The second city in importance in the Tachira State, is sit¬ 
uated 890 meters above the level of the sea, and near the limits of 
Colombia. Its average annual temperature is 70° F., and the popula¬ 
tion amounts to 8,500 inhabitants. Its principal articles of commerce 
are coffee, sugar, and tobacco. In the vicinity are found deposits of 
coal, sulphur, and gypsum. 

TRUJIELiO STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Betijoque, Bocono, 
Carache, Escuque, Trujillo, Urdaneta, and Valera. 


TRUJILLO STATE. 


133 


Trujillo.—This city is the capital of the Trujillo State, and was 
founded by Paredes in 1565. It lies 383 kilometers to the southwest 
of Caracas, and is -151 meters above the sea level. Its mean annual 
temperature is 72 F., and the population amounts to 30,000 inhabit¬ 

ants. In the vicinity are considerable coal deposits. In 1678 the 
French, under Grammont, landed on the coast 386 kilometers distant, 
and marched to Trujillo and burned the city, which, in the annals 
of the war of independence, is noted as the place where on June 15, 



the Spanish troops. There also occurred his triumphal entry on 
October 17, 1820, where he held several conferences with the Spanish 
commander, General Morillo, in reference to an armistice proposed 
by the latter officer. 

Betijoque.—This city was founded in 1781, and is located on a high 
table-land, 705 meters above the sea level. Its average annual tem¬ 
perature is 72 F., and the population amounts to 5,000 inhabitants. 

Its chief articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, and beans. 

Bocono.—This city, founded in the sixteenth century, is situated in 
one of the most picturesque valle} T s of the Republic, 1,313 meters 
above the level of the sea, and 358 kilometers southwest of Caracas. 
Its average annual temperature is 66 F., and the population amounts 
to 12,500 inhabitants. Its chief articles of commerce are coffee, sugar, 
Peruvian bark, and wheat and other cereals. In the vicinity are 
deposits of rock crystal and calcareous stone. 

Carache.—This cit} T , founded in the latter part of the eighteenth cen¬ 
tury, is situated on the west Tank of the Carache River, in a tine valley, 
1,207 meters above the level of the sea, and 225 kilometers southwest 
of Valencia. Its average annual temperature is 66 F., and the popu¬ 
lation amounts to 7,000 inhabitants. Its staple articles of commerce 
are coffee, sugar, cotton, and wheat and other cereals. 

San Jacinto.—In the Trujillo State, is located on high lands and pos¬ 
sesses a healthy and agreeable climate. Its population amounts to 
3,500 inhabitants, and the staple articles of commerce arc coffee, sugar, 
tobacco, and wheat and other cereals. In the vicinity are found 
valuable mines of sulphur and antimony. 

San Lazaro.—Founded at the commencement of the last century, 
and located in the Trujillo State, is situated 17 kilometers southwest 
of the city of Trujillo, in a valley surrounded by lofty mountains, 
through which ffows the San Lazaro River. Its climate is mild and 
salubrious. The population amounts to 6,500 inhabitants. Its prin¬ 
cipal articles of commerce are coffee and sugar. 

Pampan.—Founded in 1811, and located in the Trujillo State, is 
situated on a high table-land surrounded b} 7 hills, and is 667 meters 
above the sea level. Its average annual temperature is 75° F., and 
the population amounts to 4,000 inhabitants. Its staple articles of 
trade are coffee, beans, and sugar. 


134 


VENEZUELA. 


ZAMORA STATE. 


This State consists of the following districts: Acarigua, Anzoategui, 
Araure, Arismendi, Barinas, Bolivar, Esteller, Girardot, Guanare, 
Guanarito, Obispos, Ospino, Pao, liicaurte, Rojas, San Carlos, Sosa, 
Tinaco, and Turen. 

Area and population.—The State of Zamora, occupying an area of 
65,300 square kilometers, is bounded on the north by the Carabobo 
State; on the south by a portion of the Bolivar State; on the east by 
the Guarico State, and on the west by the former Los Andes State 
and the Lara State. Its population is about 250,000 inhabitants. 

Topography.—The largest portion of the State is composed of vast 
plains, irrigated by a number of rivers, thus affording excellent lands 
for cultivation. West of the State runs the chain of the Andes, whose 
slopes are covered with extensive forests and rich valleys. 

Orography.—The highest points in this chain are the peaks or 
“paramos’ 1 of Granate, Santo Domingo, Apure, and Caldera, ranging 
from 2,743 to 3,657 meters. The State has three large forests—San 
Camilo, Ticoporo, and Turen—where all classes of woods are abundant. 
Mahogany is most abundant in the Turen forest, while cacao grows 
spontaneously in the Ticoporo forest, on which the wild animals feed. 

Principal rivers.—The principal rivers in the State are the Portu- 
guesa River, which has its source in the Andes of the State of Lara, and 
empties into the Apure River, having a course of over 402 kilometers, 
nearly 289 of which are navigable; the Bocono River, which also 
comes from the Andes, and is about the same length as the Portuguesa, 
its navigable waters being about 241 kilometers; the Guanare and the 
Caparro, emptying into the Portuguesa and the Apure, respectively, 
having both about the same length, 370 kilometers, a half of which is 
navigable. The other rivers, all partly navigable, are the Suripa, 
Uribante, Santo Domingo, Pagliev, Canagua, Masparro, and Cojedes. 
Fishing is most abundant in all these rivers. The river ports having 
the largest traffic are Nutrias, on the Apure; Baul, at the confluence 
of the Cojedes and Tinaco rivers, and Torunos, on the Santo Domingo. 

Means of communication.—The means of communication in the State 
are the highway leading to Valencia and the highway to Barquisi- 
meto; some mule paths leading to the former State of Los Andes; 
the river Uribante, flowing into this State, and several other navigable 
rivers flowing into the Apure, thence to the Orinoco. Several steam¬ 
boats carry the traffic from the river ports of the State of Zamora to 
Ciudad Bolivar, touching at the intermediate points. Sail and row 
boats are also employed in navigation. 

Climate.—The climate of the State is either warm, temperate, or 
cold, according to the altitude above the sea. The high places are 
cool and healthful. The plains covered with pasture are also healthful. 

Stock raising.—Cattle breeding is the main industry of the State, 


ZAMORA STATE. 


135 


but there are some districts devoted to agriculture. In the districts of 
Ospino and Araure swine breeding is of considerable importance, the 
stock being the best that is raised in Venezuela, and constitutes a trade 
of considerable magnitude with the State of Zamora and Caracas. 

Agricultural products.—The agricultural products are coffee, cacao, 

• cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, indigo, wheat, and produce of all kinds, 
and line woods. 

Mines.—The State has several mines and thermal springs. 

Industries.—The manufacturing industries of the State are sugar¬ 
cane products, straw hats, hammocks, earthenware, etc. 

The principal cities are: 

San Carlos.—San Carlos, capital of the Zamora State, with a popula¬ 
tion of about 3,000 inhabitants. It became famous during the war of 
independence, being one of the cities that suffered most the ravages of 
the war. It is 117 meters above the sea, has some tine buildings, and 
occupies an excellent position as a commercial center. Its mean annual 
temperature is 83° F., and is situated on the banks of the Nirgua River 
at the entrance of the Cojedes plains, and is at a distance of 80 kilo¬ 
meters from Valencia. Its chief articles of commerce are cattle, horses, 
mules, coffee, sugar, and timber. 

Guanare has a population of 5,000 inhabitants, and is about 4 kil¬ 
ometers from the river Guanare, through which communication is 
effected with Ciudad Bolivar and other towns on the borders of the 
Orinoco and the Apure rivers. The city has some handsome build¬ 
ings. The waterworks of the city are very fine. The city is 142 
meters above the level of the sea and 350 kilometers distant from 
Caracas. It was founded in 1593 by F. do Leon, and its mean annual 
temperature is 82 F. The principal articles of commerce are cattle, 
coffee, cacao, beans, skins, horses, mules, indigo, cheese, and timber, 
and it enjoys a large and flourishing trade with Valencia, Puerto 
Cabello, and Ciudad Bolivar. In the vicing are found mines of 
nitrate of potash, sulphate of iron, and chromate of iron. 

Barinas has about 2,500 inhabitants, and is situated on the Santo 
Domingo River, which serves as a means of communication with 
Ciudad Bolivar. It is in a prosperous condition, due to its excellent 
position as a commercial town and to the fertility of its grazing lands, 
where cattle are abundant. 

Ospino has about 3,000 inhabitants. It is an agricultural town, 
breeding being its principal industry. It has good roads leading to 
Valencia, Guanare, and other towns. 

Acarigua has over 3,000 inhabitants, and is noted for the manufac¬ 
ture of straw hats, which are exported in large quantities to foreign 
lands. Not far from this city is the town of Araure, with about 200 
inhabitants. Both towns will eventually form only one city. 

Nutrias, on the Apure River, is the most important river port in 
the State. 


136 


VENEZUELA. 


There are, besides these cities, several others—Tinaco, Tinaquillo, 
Pao, Baul, and others of lesser importance, all noted for agricultural 
products. 

ZULIA STATE. 

This State consists of the following districts: Bolivar, Colon, Mara, 
Maracaibo, Miranda, Paez, Perija, Sucre, and Urdaneta. 

Situation.—The State of Zulia is situated in the northwestern part 
of Venezuela. It is bounded on the north by the Gulf of Maracaibo, 
on the east by the States of Falcon, Lara, and Trujillo, on the 
south by the States of Merida, Falcon, and Trujillo, and on the west by 
the Republic of Colombia. 

Area and population.—The nine districts of which the Zulia State 
consists have the following area and population: 


Districts. 

Area. 

Popula¬ 

tion. 

Maracaibo. . 

Urdaneta. 

Sq. km. 

3,714 
1,732 
10,70(5 
16,858 
4,485 
5,346 
1,767 
1,825 
2,910 
17,500 

Inhabitants. 

64,606 
8,735 
6,724 
5,926 
7,562 
8,049 
8,674 
6,756 
3,275 

Perijd... 

C 0 I 611 . 

Sucre . 

Bolivar. 

Miranda. 

Mara. 

Lake of Maracaibo. 

Total. 


66,843 

120,307 



Districts.—These districts forming the Zulia State are subdivided 
into municipalities and classified into north, east, south, and west 
districts, as follows: 


Districts. 


North 


East 


South 


West 


Names. 

Municipalities. 


(Sinamaica. 

- 

Mara. 

(Guagira. 

(San Rafael. 

Rican rte. 

Padilla. 

Miranda. 

Monagas. 

Altagracia. 

Farias. 

Bolivar. 

(Santa Rita. 

Cabimas. 

Sucre. 

Lagnnillas. 

(Gibraltar.. 

Bobures. 

Independencia_ 


Heras. 

General Urdaneta. 

(San Carlos. 

Santa Cruz. 

(Perijii. 

) Encontrados. 

(Urribarri. 

/ Libertad. 

"(Rosario. 

Urdaneta. 

(Concepcidn. 

Chiquinquirii. 


Carmelo*. 

(Bolivar. 

Santa Barbara. 

Chiquinquird. 


Santa Lucia. 

Cristo de Aranza. 

San Francisco. 



Principal towns. 


Sinamaica (capital). 
Paraguaipo. 

San Rafael (capital). 

La Rosita. 

El Ancon. 

Palmarejo. 

Altagracia (capital). 
Quiairo. 

Santa Rita (capital). 
Lagunillas. 

Gibraltar (capital). 
Bobures. 

San Timoteo. 

Santa Marla. 

Palmarito. 

San Carlos (capital). 
Santa Cruz. 

Santa Barbara. 

Machiques (capital). 

El Rosario. 

Chiquinquin'i (capital). 
El Carmelo. 

Maracaibo (capital). 
San Francisco. 

Bella Vista. 

Santa Rosa. 






















































































ZULIA STATE. 


137 


Topography.— The Zulia State may be considered as an immense 
valley, having in its center the lake of Maracaibo, from the coasts of 
which the land rises toward the interior until it reaches the mountain 
ranges situated to the east, south, and west. Great diversity of cli¬ 
mate, from the tropical to that of perpetual snow, may he found in the 
different altitudes, and the soil is sedimentary and marshy at the coasts 
of the lake, and covered with extensive forests of precious woods 
toward the mountains, where all kinds of tropical products grow and 
are cultivated. 

Hydrography.—The hydrography of the Zulia State consists of 
maritime and continental hydrographies. The former refers to the 
Gulf of Venezuela or sac of Maracaibo, bounded between the Para- 
guana and Guagira peninsulas, having an area of about 17,000 square 
kilometers and a bar of movable sand banks at the north of the Mara¬ 
caibo Gulf, which commences at the parallel of Cape San Roman. 

The continental hydrography refers to the lake of Maracaibo, to the 
lagoons, and to the rivers of the State. The Maracaibo Lake is the 
largest of South America, as it covers an area of 17,500 square kilo¬ 
meters and measures 200 kilometers in length and from 10 to 120 in 
breadth and has a maximum depth of 17 meters. It is situated at 9° 
2' and 11° 01' latitude north, and from 3° 43' to 5° 51' longitude 
west of the Caracas meridian. Its hydrographical basin comprises 
an area of 100,000 square kilometers. The Maracaibo Lake receives 
the waters of over 500 rivers and rivulets and over 500 creeks, and is 
placed in communication with the gulf of the same name by means of 
4 channels, the largest of which has a width of 2,916 meters. 

The State possesses many lagoons, all of which are surrounded by 
rich vegetation. The principal lagoons are Laguneta del Zulia, 
Laguna de Doncellas, Sinamaica, Lagunillas, Valderramas, Aguas 
Negras, and Aguas Claras. 

Rivers.—It is estimated that more than 500 rivers and smaller streams 
water the State and empty into the lake. The principal streams con¬ 
tributing their waters to the lake are the Catatumbo, Zulia, Motatan, 
Escalante, and Socui. The Catatumbo is over 300 kilometers in length 
and navigable for more than 200. On the left bank are plantations of 
cacao and other products of lesser importance. Domestic articles and 
foreign goods imported through the Maracaibo custom-house are 
transported by the Zulia and the Catatumbo rivers. 

At the point where the Zulia flows into the Catatumbo is observable 
the phenomenon of incessant lightning, which the natives call the 
Maracaibo beacon, and which at times may be seen from the Gulf of 
Maracaibo at sea, before crossing the bar. 

The Motatan River rises in the wilderness of Mucuchies, and runs 
a distance of 300 kilometers, 100 of which are navigable from the lake 
up stream. It affords a means of communication with the Trujillo 
State. 


188 


VENEZUELA. 


The Escalante River is also navigable. It rises in the snowy height 
of Yegliines in the Tachira State, and is navigable for more than 100 
kilometers. 


The Socni has its source in the Perija range, and is called the Limon 
near its entrance into the Sinamaica lagoon. It has a length of 200 
kilometers and is navigable for half that distance. Cocoanut palms 
and corn plantations abound on the meadows of this river. 

TheTarraand Chamas rivers are also navigable in part and tributary 


to the lake. 

Orography.—Two mountain ranges, one to the east and the other to 
the west, form the natural boundaries of the State. The first sepa¬ 
rates the Zulia State from those of Falcon and Lara. The second 
brandies off from the Andes of Pamplona toward the north and its 
peaks rise to a height of 1,245 meters and form the boundary of 


Colombia. 

Climate.—The climate in the State of Zulia is generally healthful, 
excepting such regions as are covered with thick forests or marshy 
lands. Heat is constant, though mitigated by the north and south 
winds. 

Products.—Sugar cane, cocoanuts, bananas, corn, and a great variety 
of tropical fruits are produced in the State. The annual product of 
74 sugar plantations in the State, 50 of which have iron sugar mills 
and 24 wooden, is estimated at 800,000 bolivars (about $160,000). 

The annual production of cocoanuts is estimated at 17,250,000, with 
a total estimated value of 5,000,000 bolivars (about $1,000,000). This 
nut grows on the banks of the lake, where its oil is extracted and the 
refuse used for fattening swine. 

The annual production of corn is calculated to be 86,000 fanegas; of 
bananas, 11,000,000 bunches; of cacao, 102,000 kilograms; of rice, 
100,000 kilograms; of tobacco, 9,000 kilograms, and of cotton, 4,000 
kilograms. 

Maracaibo coffee.—The coffee exported from Maracaibo is produced 
in Los Andes and Colombia, the production of the State not being- 
great. Besides the articles named there are others which contribute 
to the trade of the State, such as beans, yucca and its products, 
squashes, etc. 

Among the products of spontaneous growth, freely exploited with¬ 
out cultivation, the following must be mentioned: dividivi (cwsal- 
pinia cor.),- fustic, mangrove wood, and copaiba, which yield over 
750,000 bolivars (about $150,000) annually. • 

Stock raising.—Cattle breeding produces over 30,000 head of cattle 
and nearly 200,000 “arrobas” (about 5,000,000 pounds) of cheese per 
annum. Goats and poultry are also raised in large numbers. 

Fish and game.—Game and several species of fish abound in the lakes 
and rivers, forming a part of the industry and trade of the country. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE CENTRAL PART OF MARACAIBO. 














ZITLTA STATE. 


139 


Mineral products.—The State of Zulia is also rich in mineral products; 
among which are asphalt, coal, and petroleum. There are several salt 
beds in the State; the principal being Salina Rica, Sinamaica, and 
Oribor. 

Maracaibo, capital of the State, is one of the most important and 
progressive cities in the Republic, with a population of 19,817 inhab¬ 
itants, of which 22,497 are males and 27,320 females. It is situated 
on the western shore of Lake Maracaibo, and is 35 kilometers distant 
from the sea and 833 from Caracas, and was founded in 1529 by 
Abraham Alfinger. Later it was called Nueva Zamora by Alonzo de 
Pacheco. 

This section was originally discovered by Ojeda, who, seeing the 
huts of the Indians built on piles over the water near the site of the 
city, called the place Venezuela , or Little Venice, by which name the 
western part of the country, as far as Caracas to the east, was formerly 
known, and which was given later to the whole captaincy-general and 
afterwards.to the Republic of Venezuela. 

Harbor.—Its harbor is extensive and safe, and is visited daily by a 
large number of steam and sail vessels, carrying the products of the 
several districts of the State, and from the Merida, Trujillo, and 
Taehira States, and the State of Santander in Colombia. Maracaibo 
maintains important commercial relations with foreign markets, with 
the interior, and with Colombia, it being the port of transit for goods 
intended for Colombia. 

From Maracaibo hundreds of small craft, suitable for shallow water, 
daily start and carry on the trade on the coast and rivers tributary to 
the lake. 

It is the starting point also for passenger and freight steamers, and 
the railroad lines of the Trujillo and Taehira States, which are growing 
in importance, extend rail communication with the remotest regions 
in the interior of the country. 

Education.—The number of schools supported by the State of Zulia 
in 1898 was 56, attended by 1,879 pupils, at a yearly expense of 38,496 
bolivars. 

Of the other schools, 45 are national, supported by the Federal Gov¬ 
ernment. They are attended by 2,114 children. There are 36 private 
schools, some onty preparatory, with an attendance of 720 pupils. 

The University of Zulia and the Bolivar, Cajigal, and Sacred Heart 
of Jesus colleges, the Commercial Institute of Zulia, and Academy of 
Our Lady of Lourdes, the Immaculate Conception, and San LuisGon- 
zaga are not included among the schools mentioned. Six hundred 
pupils receive instruction in these latter institutions. 

Public library.—The State supports a public library; the University 
of Zulia another, and there are besides the libraries belonging to the 
mutual aid and members’ aid societies. 


140 


VENEZUELA. 


There are 3 tramway lines, electric plants for lighting the city, tele¬ 
graph, telephone, and submarine cable, 2 clubs, 5 hotels, 17 inns, and 
24 restaurants, and all modern improvements. 

Principal buildings.—The most important buildings of the city are 
the executive mansion, public market, legislative palace, municipal 
building, the Baralt Theater, university, the custom-house, new jail, 
and the seven churches—the Cathedral, Santa Barbara, Rosario, San 
Juan de Dios, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Santa Lucia, and a Masonic 
temple. Besides public buildings Maracaibo has 6,337 houses, 56 dif¬ 
ferent streets, and the area of the city is about 44,000,000 square meters. 

Squares.—In the two public squares of the city are several statues of 
Gen. Rafael Urdaneta, one of the most conspicuous champions of 
the war of independence, and of Don Rafael Maria Baralt, an eminent 
literary man, born in Maracaibo, who wrote the history of Venezuela, 
and died in Madrid, being a member of the Royal Spanish Academy. 

Shipyard.—There is in Maracaibo a dockyard for the construction 
of sailing vessels. 

Revenue.—The revenues of the State during the fiscal year 1894-95 
reached 2,219,177.10 bolivars; the expenditures during the same period 
were 2,209,279.62 bolivars. 

Altagracia has over 7,00() inhabitants, and is built on the eastern 
shore of the lake, almost opposite to Maracaibo. It has valuable 
commercial relations with its own State and towns in the States of 
Lara and Falcon. The district has coasts on the lake and on the gulf. 
The principal sources of wealth are agriculture, fishing, and commerce. 

San Carlos del Zulia lies on the Escalante River, which serves as the 
natural channel for communication with the lake on the north and the 
interior country on the south, by means of both steam launches and 
sailboats. Fishing and agriculture are the main industries of the 
district. 

Santa Rita lies on the lake southeast of Maracaibo. The town has 
two fine bridges. The principal industries of the district are the 
cultivation of cocoanuts and the breeding of goats. 

Sinamaica has over 1,000 inhabitants, among them some Indians, 
who preserve their primitive habits and customs, and live on the 
products of game and fishing. There are three salt deposits in its 
vicinity. 

There are other towns of more or less importance. 

♦ 

FEDERAL TERRITORIES. 

Organization.—According to the constitution, promulgated on April 
27, 1904, the Federal Territories shall be organized by special laws. 
Federal Territories can not be incorporated as States unless they have 
a population of at least 100,000 inhabitants and prove to Congress 


AMAZONAS TERRITORY'. 


141 


that they are able to meet the expense of all the branches of the public 
service. (Art. 4 of the Constitution.) 

Federal Territories are each presided over by a governor and are 
under the direct administration of the executive power of the Republic. 

Number of Territories.—The constitution in force establishes that the 
Federal Territories are live in number, namely, Amazonas, Cristobal 
Colon, Colon, Delta Amacuro, and Yuruari. 


AMAZONAS TERRITORY. 


Boundaries.—The Amazonas Territory is situated in the region of 
the forests, its boundaries being as follows: The State of Bolivar on 
the north, the Republic of Colombia on the west, on the east the State 
of Bolivar, and the Republic of Brazil on the south. 

Population.—The population of the Territory is estimated at about 
46,000 inhabitants, divided as follows: 12,000 civilized Indians, 33,000 
uncivilized, 200 natives of other States of the Republic, and about 700 
foreigners. The Indians are grouped in several tribes, the principal 
being the Maquitares, the Vanivas, the Puinabos, the Guahibos, the 
Piaroas, the Macos, and the Vares. The Territory is divided into four 
districts. 

Capital city.—San Fernando de Atabapo is the capital of the Ter¬ 
ritory. 

Orography.—The eastern portion of the Territory comprises large 
forests, with rivers, ranges, plains, and savannas. The Orinoco River 
bathes the central portion, dividing the Territory into two parts. On 
the western portion great plains are found extending as far as Colom¬ 
bia. The ranges in the Territory belong to the Parima system, its 
highest peaks being Macaragua, 2,293 meters altitude; Duida and 
Zamuro, over 1,828 meters each. 

Navigable rivers.—The navigable rivers in the Territory are numer¬ 
ous, the principal being the Orinoco, Meta, Ventuario, Guaviare, and 
Yichada, Inirida, and Guaima. The last river mentioned takes the 
name of Rio Negro upon entering the Casiquiare, and, running through 
Brazil, empties into the Amazonas. The most remarkable lagoon in 
the Territory is Vasiva, where turtles are abundant. 

Natural products.—The natural products, in which the trade is large, 
are rubber, sarsaparilla, copaiba, tonka beans, tar, and wild cacao; 
and those of the Indian industry are “chiquichique” (Attalea funifera) 
cords and ropes, hammocks, launches, fermented drinks, etc. 

Commerce.—Trade consists in the exchange of cloths and provisions 
from Ciudad Bolivar and Brazil for the natural products of the Terri- 
tory and those of the Indian industry. Traffic is more active through 
the region around the Guainia and Casiquiare rivers, and portions of 
the Orinoco and Atabapo rivers. Communication with Ciudad Bolivar 


142 


VENEZUELA. 


is effected by the Orinoco; with Brazil by the Bio Negro and affluents 
and by land, and with British Guiana by the waterways of the rivers 
Padamo, Cuyuni, and Esequibo. 

r 

col6n territory. 

The Territory comprises the following Venezuelan islands on the 
Caribbean Sea, namely: Blanquilla, Los Hermanos, Frailes, Sola, 
Testigos, Esmereldas, Venados, Caracas, Picudas, Chimanas, Borracha, 
Arapos, Monos, Piritu, Farallon, Ocumare, Orchila, Los Poques, Aves, 
Los Monjes and several small islands. 

Capital city.—Gran Roque, in the Roques group, is the capital of the 
Territory. Almost all the islands are uninhabited. 

Natural products.—The natural products of the Colon Territory are 
phosphate of lime, guano, lime, woods, and ffsh. In Orchila a plant 
is found by the same name which is exported in large quantities for 
industrial purposes. There are salt deposits and mangrove groves in 
Los Roques. 

No data were available, at the time this volume was printed, regard¬ 
ing the Federal Territories Cristobal Colon (capital Cristobal Colon), 
Delta Amacuro (capital San Jose de Amacuro), and Yuruari (capital 
Guacipati). 


INDEX TO CHAPTER IV. 


States and Federal Territories. 

Political division. 

Organization. 

Rights and obligations of States. 

Rights. 

Obligations. 

Support of the States. 

Federal States and principal cities. 

Aragua State.. 

La Victoria, city of (capital). 

Barbacoas, city of. 

Ciudad de Cura. 

Maracay, town of. 

Ortiz, town of. 

San Mateo, town of. 

Bermudez State. 

Curnand, city of (capital). 

Barcelona, city of. 

Aragua de Barcelona, town of. 

Cariipano, town of.. 

Cumanacoa, town of. 

Guanta, town of. 

Rio Caribe, town of. 

Maturfn section. *... 

Geographical position. 

Area and population. 

Climate. 

General aspect. 

Agricultural products. 

Pastoral zone. 

Mines. 

Industrial products. 

Orography. 

Hydrography. 

Ports. 

Fluvial communication. 

Means of communication. 

Commercial movement.. 

Population of Maturfn and other towns 

City of Maturfn. 

Bolivar State. 

Ciudad Bolivar (capital). „ T ... ,. 


Page. 

115 

115 

115 

115 

115 

116 

117 

118 
118 
118 
118 
118 
119 
119 

119 

120 
120 
120 # 
121 
121 
121 
121 
122 
122 
122 
122 
122 
122 
122 
123 
123 
123 
123 
123 
123 
123 
123 
123 

123 

124 
124 
124 


143 













































144 


VENEZUELA. 


Carabobo State.„. 

Area and poulation. 

Boundaries. 

Agricultural Zone. 

Pastoral Zone. 

Natural products. 

Mining. 

Valencia, city of (capital).... 

Montalban, town of. 

Nirgua, town of. 

Ocumare, town of. 

Puerto Cabello, city of. 

Tinaquillo, town of. 

Falcon State. 

Coro, city of (capital). 

Cabure, town of. 

Capat&rida, town of. 

Guarico State. 

Calabozo, city of (capital).... 

Camagu&n, city of. 

Guayabal, town of. 

Zaraza, town of. 

Lara State. 

Barquisimeto, city of (capital) 

Carora, citv of. 

Tocuyo, city of. 

Yaritagua, city of. 

# Merida State. 

Merida, city of (capital). 

Miranda State. 

Ocumare, city of (capital) ... 

Charayave, town of. 

Cua, town of. 

Rfo Chico, town of. 

San Casimiro, town of. 

Tilchira State... 

San Cristobal, city of (capital) 

La Grita, town of. 

Tariba, town of. 

Trujillo State. 

Trujillo, city of (capital). 

Betijoque, town of. 

Bocono, town of. 

Caraclie, town of. 

San Jacinto, town of. 

San Lazaro, town of. 

Pampdn, town of. 

Zamora State. % . 

Area and population. 

Topography. 

Principal rivers. 

Means of communication. 

Climate. 


Page. 

125 

125 

125 

125 

125 

125 

125 

125 

126 
126 
127 
127 

127 

128 
128 
128 
128 
128 
128 
129 
129 
129 
129 

129 

130 
130 

130 

131 
131 
131 
131 
131 
131 

131 

132 
132 
132 
132 

132 

133 
133 
133 
133 
133 
133 
133 

133 

134 
134 
134 
134 
134 
134 























































INDEX TO CHAPTER IV. 145 

Zamora State—Continued. P agc> 

Stock raising. 134 

Agricultural products. 135 

Mines. 135 

Industries. 135 

San Carlos, city of (capital). 135 

Guanare, town of. 135 

Barinas, town of. 135 

Ospino, town of. 135 

Acarigua, town of. 135 

Nutriits, town of. 135 

Zulia State: 

Situation. 136 

Area and population. 136 

Districts. 136 

Topography. 137 

Hydrography. 137 

Rivers. 137 

• * 

Orography. 138 

Climate. 138 

Products. 138 

Maracaibo coffee. 138 

Stock raising. 138 

Fish and game. 138 

Mineral products. 139 

Maracaibo, city of (capital). 139 

Harbor. 139 

Education. 139 

Public library. 139 

Principal buildings. 140 

Squares. . 140 

Shipyard. 140 

Revenue. 140 

Altagracia, town of. 140 

San Carlos del Zulia, town of. 140 

Santa Rita, town of. 140 

Sinamaica, town of. 140 

Federal Territories. 140 

Organization. 140 

Number of Territories. 141 

Amazonas Territory: 

Boundaries. • . Ill 

Population. .,. 141 

Capital city. 141 

Orography. 141 

Navigable rivers. 141 

Natural products. 141 

Commerce. Ml 

Colon Territory. 142 

Capital city. 1-12 

Natural products. 142 




































































_ 

’ 

■ 

















' 























CHAPTER V. 


AGRICULTURE: NATURAL WEALTH AND RESOURCES—FOREST 
AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS—PUBLIC-LAND LAW. 


AGRICULTURE. 

Agricultural zone. —According to official statistics, the agricultural 
region of Venezuela covers an area of 349,481 square kilometers, 
extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the limits with Colombia and 
embracing the territory between the Carribbean seacoast and the 
plains of the Orinoco on the southern boundary of the Republic. 

Fertility of soil. —The fertility of the soil; its perfect adaptibility to 
the growth and maturity of the staple agricultural products, so essen¬ 
tial to the existence of man and beast; the mild climate, with all the 
necessary conditions of temperature, humidity,• healthfulness, etc., 
together with the gradual increase of facilities for communication and 
transportation, and its geographical position, all render it one of the 
most attractive and profitable regions for agricultural pursuits. 

Prospect of growth. —Twenty per cent of Venezuela’s population is 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. This proportion, however, is not 
sufficient for an extensive development of the natural resources of this 
vast zone, as a population one hundredfold greater could derive a 
comfortable subsistence from the agricultural region. Therefore, 
with an increase in the population, with greater transportation facili¬ 
ties, the introduction of new arts and sciences, and more general appli¬ 
cation of modern machinery and implements, this region is bound to 
become one of the most prosperous and richest agricultural fields of 
the world. 

Agricultural products. —The principal agricultural products of Ven¬ 
ezuela are coffee, cacao, sugar, tobacco, india rubber, tonka beans, 
cotton, corn, vanilla, and wheat. The most important farinaceous 
root products arc apio, sweet potatoes, name, cassava, yuca, yams, 
mapuey, and Irish potatoes. The vegetable seeds consist of wetches, 
bene seed, pease, beans, peanuts, okra, and many others. The chief 
vegetable plants are cabbage, cauliflower, melons, asparagus, turnips, 
radishes, beets, egg plants, garlic, pepper, celery, carrots, cresses, 
onions, spinach, lettuce, artichokes, mustard, etc. 


147 


148 


VENEZUELA.. 


Fruit.—The fruits of Venezuela, many of which are of considerable 
size and delicate flavor, include oranges, large sweet lemons, limes, 
plantains, bananas (of which there is a great variety), pineapples, pome¬ 
granates, tigs, grapes, strawberries, plums, breadfruit, chestnuts, 
guava, alligator pears, cocoanuts, guanabanas, papayas, cacao plums, 
mangoes, mameyes, zapotes, parchas, medlars, tamarinds, cactus fruit, 
and a great quantity of other tropical fruits. 

STAPLE PRODUCTS. 

The following are the staple products of Venezuela: 

COFFEE. « 

First cultivation.—The cultivation of coflce in Venezuela began in 
the year 1784. The first seeds were brought from Martinique by 
Mollano, who started the first farm in Blandin (neighborhood of 
Caracas). The first shipment took place in 1789, and consisted of 233 
bags; in 1808 the exports already amounted to 30,000 bags. 

Number of coffee trees.—The number of coffee trees existing in Vene¬ 
zuela may be approximately reckoned at 250,000,000. 

Production.—Venezuela produces annually about 1,000,000 bags of 
coffee, and present statistics place her in the second rank among coffee¬ 
growing countries. Several causes, first of these being the low prices 
of the bean, which do not admit of its being cultivated in less-favored 
spots, have contributed to a falling off in the output. The cultivation 
is effected on high plains as well as on mountains. 

Soils.—The lands are alluvial, the best being clayey with sand (sili- 
cious), and reddish and pebbly (diorites). 

Climate and altitude.—-The climate is temperate, and the altitudes 
vary between 500 and 2,000 meters, those of about 500 to 1,000 being 
considered the best suited to this industry. 

Sowing.—The sowing is done by digging holes of about 22 centi¬ 
meters deep by the same width and planting 1,600 to 1,900 shoots per 
hectare (14,383 square yards). 

Planting.—Practice has shown that coffee trees can not live without 
shade; therefore guamo (Inga laurina) and bucare trees are planted at 
distances of 8 to 10 meters, in order to secure the necessary protection. 
Guamo grows to a height of 10 to 20 meters and bucare (erythriva 
umbrosa ) to 20 and 30; both lose their leaves periodically, and these 
become a fine manure for the coffee plantations. 

Yield per tree.—The yield may be estimated at one-fourth or one- 
half pound per tree, or about 400 to 950 pounds per hectare. 

Duration.—Coffee plantations last fifty years in good condition. 

a Abstract from Venezuelan Delegates’ report to Coffee Congress, 1902. 57th Cong., 
S. Doc. No. 35, pp. 132-144. 





COFFEE. 


149 


Cost of production. —Cultivation expenses on a farm of 100,000 tr t ees, 
sown on a surface of 58 hectares, 1,700 shoots, more or less, per hec¬ 
tare (14,383 square yards), are as follows: 


Cost of production or exploitation. 

Two cleansings or gatherings, at 16 bolivars (58 by32)... 

Pruning, at 16 bolivars per hectare, half each year. 

Clearing brushes and replanting in the shade. 

Brushes and coffee replantings. . 

A foreman, at 120 bolivars per month. 


Bolivars. 
. 1,856 
. 464 

. 200 
. 400 

. 1,440 


Total 


4, 360 


Gathering , dressing , and sale of the bean. 


Expenses per quintal, including bags, baskets, and corporal. 

Production per tree. 

One-fourth 
pound 
(250 quin¬ 
tals). 

One-half 
pound 
(375 quin¬ 
tals). 

One-half 
pound 
(500 quin¬ 
tals). 

Gathering and freight to the office, at 6 bolivars. 

Bolivars. 

2,000 
1,000 

1,000 

500 

Bolivars. 

3,000 

1,500 

1,500 

750 

Bolivars. 

4,000 
2,000 

2,000 

1,000 

Dressing at office, at 4 bolivars.. 

FreightTto port, varying according to distance from farm, at 4 
bolivars. 

Bags, commission, interest, and other expenses, at 2 bolivars_ 

Total. 

4,500 
3, GOO 

G, 750 
4,360 

9,000 

4,360 

Annual cost of cultivation, as stated, which is always the same .. 

Grand total. 

8,860 

11,110 

13,360 



The quintal of 100 Spanish pounds costs the farmer, according to 
these figures, in the three cases, 35.44, 29.00, 26.72 bolivars. Say, for 
every 50 kilos sold in Venezuela, 39.06, 32.03, 29.40 bolivars; from 
Caracas to Valencia, including cost of bags, per 50 kilos more or less, 
maritime freight, insurance, and selling discount, 4, 4, 4 bolivars; If 
selling commission, brokerage, etc., 0, 0, 0 bolivars; total charges, 
49.06, 42.03, 39.40 bolivars. So that the producer has got to sell in 
Caracas, according to the bounty of his crop in a given year, per hun¬ 
dredweight of 100 Spanish pounds, 35.44 bolivars if the output was 
250 hundredweight (quintals); 29.00 bolivars if the output was 375 
hundredweight (quintals); 20.72 bolivars if the output was 500 hun¬ 
dredweight (quintals); and if he exports it, selling his drafts at par, as 
is the practice, he has got to sell in Havre or Hamburg each 50 kilos 
for 49.00, 42.63, and 39.40 bolivars, respectively. And this will only 
bring him in the net cost of his crop, this reckoning not including 
interest of capital, nor value of the farm, nor interest paid to the lender 
on loans received, nor on expenses for, repairs to buildings, roads, 
etc. Few farmers can nowadays carry on the cultivation of coffee 
under these conditions. 

Markets for Venezuelan coffees. —The different qualities of Venezue¬ 
lan coffees have eadi their special markets. Extra fine qualities 

































150 


VENEZUELA. 


command the best prices in France, Germany, and Austria. All the 
coffee exported from Maracaibo finds a ready market in the United 
States, and medium grades sell equally there and in Europe. Eng¬ 
land is not a favorable market for Venezuelan coffee. 

Grades of coffee.—Thrashed coffees are classed as follows: The big 
bean, IT to 18 millimeters long l)y r 9 millimeters broad, eliptical shape, 
even grain, clean, oily, blue or green, with silvery down or without 
it, is ranked as coffee of the best quality, and next the mountain 
coffees, big or medium-sized seed, with or without down, and of a 
washed-out color. This kind contains several subdivisions, according 
to color, selection, aroma, and dressing. 

Blue and green coffees.—Blue coffees grow on high ground near the 
coast, at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,200 meters above sea level. 
Green coffees are produced on inland mountains and at lower altitudes. 
All these coffees are known under the general denomination of “Cold 


land coffees.” 

Thrashed.—Thrashed coffees of small size are harvested in inland 
valleys, and are known as “hot land.” The bean is 11 to 12 milli¬ 
meters long and T millimeters in its broader dimensions across the 
center. These coffees constitute the third grade among thrashed ones, 
and are subdivided into two kinds, viz, the light ground and soft bean 
coming from sandy lands, and the yellowish bean, dark green, grown 
on clayey soil. 

Unwashed.—The coffees styled in the United States “unwashed” are 
known in France as “non grages.” These are dressed by drying in 
their own shell, then pestled or harrow r ed by machinery or by hand. 
There is a great variety of coffees under this denomination. The 
thrashed coffees, of a golden hue, big bean, and rich aroma, grown in 
the vicinities of Caracas, Carabobo, Villa de Cura, and Villa Morin, 
bring 1 bolivars more than Valencia and Barquisimeto kinds, the 
grains of which are smaller. 

Maracaibo coffee.—The mountain ranges, otherwise the States of 
Merida, Trujillo, and Tachira, cultivate extensively the coffees known 
in New York as “ Maracaibos. ” The coffees from the above-named 
States enjoy greater preference in the United States and attain better 
prices than in Europe. They are known by the names of Tovar, 
Bocono, Merida, and Trujillo. 

Venezuelan coffees are not in any way hampered by the sanitary 
laws of any country. 

Dry and wet processes.—The processes employed in Venezuela for 
dressing coffee are two: First, the primitive system of drying it in its 
own husk by spreading same on brick or cement yards and shelling it 
afterwards by different mechanical means, such as in mortars, etc. 
This process produces the thrashed coffee and is called “ the dry proc¬ 
ess." The v r et process consists in spreading the red pulp by means 


COFFEE. 


151 


of native pulping machines, thoroughly washing the coffee, drying it 
under the sun or by means of fire driers, and removing husks by 
machinery. The buildings consist of halls for the machinery, cement 
or brick yards, galleries, and warehouses. On some of the Venezuelan 
plants large sums of money have been invested. 

Means of transportation.—The distances from the coffee plantations 
in so vast a country as Venezuela do not admit of a correct estimate 
being made of the cost of transportation from the growing districts. 
In the region of Los Andes, composed of the States of Merida, Tru¬ 
jillo, and Tachira, and crossed by mountains that produce large quan¬ 
tities of coffee, as being the most suitable to this cultivation, freights 
are high, in spite of the railway lines that make transportation easier. 
The traffic is by rail, by cart or wagon roads, and by beasts of burden. 
In the latter case each animal carries 75 to 150 pounds. The cost of 
this kind of transportation is reckoned at 5 cents per arroba of 25 
pounds per day of travel. 

Cost of freight.—Generally speaking, the freight upon coffee for 
export by La Guaira and Puerto Cabello ma\ be reckoned at 10 boli¬ 
vars per 100 kilos from the farm to the shipping port and within a 
radius of 200 kilometers. 

Cents. 

The freight per 100 kilos of coffee from La Guaira to New York is (in American 


gold). 62 

From Puerto Cabello to New York. 58 

From Coro to New York. 74 

From Maracaibo to New York. 99 


La Guaira and Puerto Cabello ship coffee to Europe (via New York) 
with option of the following ports: 

Shillings. 

Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bremen, Havre, Hamburg, Liverpool, and Rotterdam, 


at (per ton of 1,000 kilos). 42 

For Bordeaux and Marseilles. 47 J 

For Trieste and Naples. 63 

For Genoa. 52 J 


(The freight from Maracaibo is 10 to 15 shillings higher.) 


By direct steamers the freights are (per ton): 

Francs. 


Marseilles. 50 

Genoa. 60 

Trieste .. 75 


The means of transportation include fast steamers of direct lines 
that call regularly at ports which in harvest times increase the number 
of their steamers. La Guaira and Puerto Cabello during such times 
clear IP to 16 steamers per month, greatly facilitating transportation. 
The present freight from these ports is 43. 75 francs per ton for Havre, 
Hamburg, and Bordeaux. 

Intermediaries.—The first intermediary is the commission merchant, 
who advances money on the crops, charging 1 per cent interest per 













152 


VENEZUELA. 


month (as happens in the principal cities of Venezuela). He receives 
the consignment and charges a selling commission of 2 per cent. 
Coffee is sold in the mercantile cities of Venezuela to exporters by the 
agency of brokers. The latter collect from the buyer a brokerage of 
10 cents per bag of 130 pounds. Then it is sold in Europe through 
commission houses. 



New York. 

Havre. 

Trieste. 

Hamburg. 

Discount upon the selling price. 

Per cent. 

2 

Per cent. 

1 * 

1-2 

Per cent. 

3 

Per cent. 

1 

Selling commission. 

21 

1 

2 

Brokerage . 

1 

A 

1 

§ to) 

Marine insurance. 

~Af to 1 

1 

1 to 1 

I to | 




Sundry expenses at the rate of ft cents per bag. 


These charges amount to 6 bolivars (marine insurance included) for 
each 50 kilos, taking as a basis a sale of ordinary coffee at 50 francs 
per 50 kilos. r 

Exchange rate at par.—The exchange in Venezuela on Europe and 
the United States is at par. The country is one of the few Latin- 
American nations that have succeeded in maintaining the gold standard. 
During the year 1903 francs upon Paris banking houses have fluctu¬ 
ated between 99 and 102 bolivars. The country throughout is mono- 
metalist (absolutely nothing but gold), and is opposed to all paper 
money. 

Direct exports.—A few Venezuelan exporters offer their coffee direct 
to the roasters in Europe, and by these means the} r save certain small 
commissions, and also obtain a slight increase of price for their coffee. 

Price of coffee.—Central and South American coffees that are selling- 
now on the New York Exchange at about 51 cents are retailing at from 
15 to 25 cents per pound in quantities. 

Value of Venezuelan coffees, 1902. 


La Guaira. 

Caracas. 
(100 Spanish 
pounds). 

Hamburg. 
(50 kilos.) 

New York. 
(50 kilos.) 

Washed, hot lands. 

Bolivars. 

36-46 

40-52 

46-60 

30-36 

28-34 

Marks. 

37.45 
39.49 
45. 69 
32.35 
30.33 

Cents. 

Mountain. 

9 j-13 

Cold land superior. 

Caracas unwashed or thrashed. 


Puerto Cabello unwashed or thrashed. 

71- 8 
63- 7* 
7*- 33 
8h-m 

Maracaibo, Trujillo. 

Bocono and Tovar. 



Merida (washed). 







Roasting process.—The process of roasting the coffee causes it to lose 
15 to 20 per cent of its weight. The cost of roasting, packing, etc., 
does not exceed 11 cents per pound. 


Coffee quoted at. $6. 00 

Plus loss of 20 per cent in the weight.. 1.20 

Roasting, packing, etc. 1. 50 


Is worth. 8.70 










































CACAO. 


153 


Rio and Maracaibo coffees are retailed (roasted) at 15 cents per 


pound. 

Coffee quoted at.$15. 00 

Plus loss of 20 per cent in the weight. 3. 00 

Roasting, packing, etc. 1.50 

Is worth. 19.50 


Java, La Guaira fine, and Bogota are retailed (roasted) at 25 cents 
per pound. 

Venezuela does not levj r upon coffee any national or municipal tax. 

Management of plantations.—The manager in many cases is the 
owner; others employ a foreman, who earns generally 120 bolivars 
per month. But of the methods employed the one that gives better 
results is the jobbing work—payment by contract for the amount of 
labor done. 

Cost of labor.—The laborers are native, good hands as a rule, even 
tempered, docile, and sociable. The hands look after the farming, 
and are paid 10 to 50 cents gold per day of seven to eight hours. 
They live separately in huts of their own construction, and feed upon 
cereals and meat grown in the country at a low cost. 

Outlook of future development.—Not far from the coast, and under 
conditions very favorable for the cultivation of coffee, there are exten¬ 
sive mountain lands and thick woods that have never been cultivated. 
In these localities rains are frequent. On the other hand, it happens 
that many of the farms existing at the present time are situated in 
regions nearly all denuded of woods and where rains are seldom, for 
which reason they are liable to droughts that weaken the plants and 
considerably diminish the output. 

Venezuela’s principal article of export is coffee, of which a great 
quantity is consumed in the United States, in the markets of which it 
is known under the names of u Caracas” and u Maracaibo,” the former 
of these including coffees from the center of the country exported 
through La Guaira, PuertoCabello, andCumana, and the “Maracaibo” 
brand embraces those from the Zulia and Los Andes region, Trujillo, 
Merida, Tovar, Bocono, San Cristobal, etc. The coffee exports from 
Venezuela to the United States, principally those from La Guaira and 
Puerto Cabello, which in 1888 amounted to 212,890 bags, decreased in 
1893 to 3,718 bags, owing to the absence of a reciprocit}^ treaty between 
1892 and 1891. When the retaliatory duties of 1891 were repealed, the 
importation of these coffees again commenced to increase. The imports 
of coffee from Maracaibo, which also decreased considerably during 
that time, have again commenced to slowly increase, to the extent that 
nearlv the whole crop from that locality now comes to this market. 


CACAO. 

Cacao zone.—The natural product (Theobroma ededo —theobroma, 
meaning “Food of the Gods”) from which the chocolate of commerce 







154 


VENEZUELA. 


is made is the fruit of a tree indigenous to the soil of Venezuela, 
which possesses one of the choicest cacao zones of the world. 

Height of trees.—The tree grows to the average height of 4 meters 
and from 12 to 20 centimeters in diameter, with spreading boughs, is 
of hardy growth, and, though requiring more attention than the coffee 
tree, its equally reliable crops necessitate comparatively little labor in 
preparing them for the market. 

Profitable cultivation.—The cacao tree, for full development and 
remunerative crops, requires a temperature of 80 F. As the cacao- 
producing region of the world is comparatively restricted, the planter 
of this product need not fear the steady competition that has been 
encountered in the cultivation of other staple products. Besides these 
conditions of temperature cacao needs a moist and humid atmosphere, 
so the lands along the Caribbean coast, sloping from the mountain 
tops to the shore, bedewed by the exhalations of the sea and irrigated 
by the numerous rivulets that course down the valleys, are found to 
be in all respects well adapted to the profitable cultivation of cacao. 

Plantations.—A cacao plantation is laid out in the same manner 
as an apple orchard, except that the } r oung stocks may be trans¬ 
planted from the nursery after two months’ growth. No preparation 
of the soil is necessary and no manures are applied. One acre will 
accommodate about one hundred trees, and, like coffee, they must be 
protected from the sun by shade trees, such as the bucare and banana, 
until they have acquired normal size. Small trenches must be main¬ 
tained, so that every week a stream of water conveniently near may 
be turned into channels and bear the moisture to the soil. 

Production.—Five years after planting the trees begin to bear two 
crops a } T ear, ripening in June and December. Generally all of the 
trees produce throughout the year, but in small quantitju The aver¬ 
age age of the tree is about forty years, during which time the crop 
will yield from 225 to 275 kilograms per acre. 

Gathering of crop.—The bean, or seed, is very similar in appearance 
to the shelled almond. Sixty or eighty are inclosed in an elongated 
pod, bribed like the muskmelon and colored like the eggplant, which, 
on ripening, assumes a reddish hue. A peculiarity of the tree is that 
it bears the fruit from the lower trunk, as well as from the branches. 
Upon ripening the pods are gathered and heaped in piles on the 
ground, where, after a few days, they ferment and burst, when the 
seed must be shelled and housed. 

Grades of cacao.—Two grades of cacao are found in Venezuela— c?'i- 
ollo cacao, which is the native cacao, and trinitario cacao, which was 
imported from Trinidad. The criollo cacao grows wild in the valleys 
situated near the sea, where the temperature is warm and moist. It 
is of a very high grade, and sells for $14 to $24 a fanega, or 50 kilo¬ 
grams. The most important plantations are found between La Guaira, 
Puerto Cabello, and Barlovento, at an altitude of 500 meters. The 


SUGAR CANE. 


155 


trinitario is inferior in quality to the criotto , but it grows more rap¬ 
idly. This cacao is extensively planted at present, and although it is 
bitter in taste compared with the criollo , which is much sweeter, it is 
readily sold. The trinitario sells for $12 to $18 the faneera. The 
annual production of cacao in Venezuela is about 8,000 tons, average 
crop. 

The “Chuao” plantation produces a grade of cacao which on account 
of its sweetness and other qualities commands the exceptionally high 
market price of $10 to $15 the 50 kilograms, and is nearly all exported 
to France. 

Markets for cacao.—The demand for cacao in Europe is regular and 
very large. In Spain, Italy, and Mexico it is principally used in the 
form of chocolate, while in France, Germany, and England it is chiefly 
employed in the manufacture of confections. Its use is becoming so 
varied and extensive that it must soon be as really, if not as univer¬ 
sally, a staple article of consumption as coffee or tea. 

The cacao of Venezuela also finds a ready sale in the United States, 
in the markets of which it is known, like coffee, by the names of u Cara¬ 
cas” and u Maracaibo,” the former embracing the cacao coming from 
Rio Caribe, Guiria, Carupano, Rio Chico, Higuerote, and other places 
on the eastern coast; the other grade comes from the States of Zulia, 
Merida, Trujillo, and Tachira. 


SUGAR CANE. 


The sugar cane (saccharum ojjicinarum t) is of great importance in 
Venezuela and is cultivated with good results. The climate and the 
fertile soil are the principal factors in its extensive production. Sugar 
cane grows everywhere in Venezuela except in the mountainous parts, 
which is due to lack of irrigation. 

Species of sugar cane.—There are four species of sugar cane culti¬ 
vated in Venezuela, viz: The indigenous, called Oriolla , the Otaiti , the 
Batavian , adapted especially to the production of rum, and the Solan- 
gore. The Criolla is the most used on account of its sweetness and the 
good results. 

Plantations.—The sugar plantations are divided into tablones 90 
meters square, each lot separated by a road. The sowing and reaping 
of the sugar cane is effected in such a way that the plantation is under 
production the whole year round. The soil has to be kept well irrigated. 

Machinery.—Every plantation has a special building equipped with 
the necessary machinery and implements for the manufacture of the 
different sugar-cane products. 

Products.—The sugar-cane products are papelon (brown sugar), sugar, 
alcohol, and rum. 

Alcohol.—The plantation which produces the largest quantity of 
alcohol is situated in the .vicinity of Caracas, the output being from 
10,000 to 15,000 loads of the liquid during a year. It amounts to 


156 


VENEZUELA. 


from 800,000 to 1,200,000 bottles, and manufactures besides about 3,000 
loads of brown sugar of 192,000 pieces, weighing 301,811 kilograms. 
This plantation has 300 cultivated tablones , and owns much uncultivated 
ground which is good and fertile. The plant of this plantation is 
worth many hundred thousand dollars. 

Sugar.—The plantation which produces the greatest quantity of sugar 
is located in the State of Zulia, near the city of Maracaibo, and at a 
short distance from the lake of the same name. It produces a good 
quality of sugar, which is refined and boxed in tabulets of half a pound 
and exported for nearly all the country in boxes containing 1(3 kilo¬ 
grams. Its plant, estimated to be worth $500,000, is one of the best 
of the kind for the manufacture of refined sugar, though there is 
another plantation situated near La (f naira that has a good plant which 
makes granulated sugar. The best quality of sugar produced in Ven¬ 
ezuela is manufactured in Guatire (Miranda State). This sugar is 
made in the same shape as that of other parts of the country, and com¬ 
mands better prices. 

Brown sugar.—The plantation with the largest output of brown sugar 
is located near the city of Caracas, and its production has been from 
250,000 to 300,000 pieces a year, or 396,000 to 176,000 kilograms. 
There is another plantation that produces about the same quantity sit¬ 
uated in the Libertador department. It is contiguous to the latter, 
and the difference in the amount of production is due to the soil and 
cultivation. This kind of sugar has the largest consumption in Ven¬ 
ezuela. It is offered to the market in different shapes. In the Federal 
District, States of Miranda and Aragua, it is molded into cylindrical 
cubes weighing about 1 kilogram 60 grams; in the State of Carabobo, 
in the same shape, though with a weight of 680 grams, or If pounds; 
while in the States of Merida, Trujillo, Tachira, Zulia, Falcon, and 
Lara brown sugar is made into squares weighing 1 kilogram 60 grams 
each, or 3i pounds. 

Plantation work.—This work is seldom undertaken directly by the 
owners of the land. As a general rule lots of land arfe distributed 
among medianeros , who have to sow the land and provide for all the 
labor of the cultivation until the sugar cane is ready to be sent to the 
elaborating departments, when they cut it and store it in the special 
building where it is manufactured without cost to them. Half of the 
product belongs to the owner of the land. Medianeros can in the 
meantime sow beans, corn, and cereals, which products belong to them, 
but it is understood that the} 7 are obliged to sow sugar cane in the 
land they obtain, and see that the tablones are constantly under 
cultivation. 


COTTON. 


Cotton, although a natural uroduct of Venezuela, was not cultivated 
until 1782. 


TOBACCO. 


157 


Cultivation.—The cultivation of this product assumed important 
proportions during the civil war of the United States, but after that 
event and the subsequent great decline in the prices of this staple, the 
industry gradually decayed. The stalk grows to the proportions of a 
large bush. Annual planting, as in the United States, is unnecessary, 
and with the usual cultivation the } T ield in Venezuela is much greater. 

Production.—At the beginning of 1800 the average production was 
about 450,000 kilograms annually. In 1850 the exports of cotton were 
300,000 kilograms, and in 1888 57,500 kilograms. 


TOBACCO. 


Tobacco zone.—Tobacco, discovered by the Spaniards in Yucatan, 
was thence disseminated through the West Indies and soon introduced 
into Venezuela, where it is most successfully cultivated in Capadare, 
Yaritagua, Merida, Ciunanacoa, Guanape, Guaribe, and Barinas. A 
good quality comes from the locality of Capadare, in the State of Fal¬ 
con, and is similar to that from the Vuelta Abajo plantations in Cuba. 
Excellent tobacco is also grown near Curnana, that from Guacharo 
being considered exceptionally good. In Maturin, Upata and Barinas, 
in the neighborhood of the Federal District, and in Quebrada Seca, in 
the State of Aragua, in Guacara, and near the city of Valencia, in the 
State of Carabobo, a great quantity of excellent tobacco is also grown. 

Cultivation.—The plant thrives best on humid, moderate, and fertile 
soil, since if it be too light and sandy the tobacco yields poorly and 
tires quickly, while if the soil is too rich the yield, though large, will 
be of tobacco tilled with acrid matter and therefore very susceptible to 
injury by fermentation. 

The cultivation of tobacco requires about six months in Venezuela 
to have it ready for the market, and while the cost is very insignifi- 
cant, great care is required. 

Preparation.—The Indians near Merida, Trujillo, and Barinas boil 
tobacco to the consistency of paste and use this preparation instead of 
chewing the leaf. There are many factories for preparing chewing 
tobacco, the most important of which are situated in Valencia, Gua¬ 
cara, and in Altagracia cle Orituco. 

Production.—Some tobacco is exported from Venezuela, chiefly to 
Havana, where, with that from Colombia, Santo Domingo, and other 
localities, it combines in the manufacture of real Havana cigars. 
Those made in Caracas and La Guaira of well-cured Capadare leaf are 
in no respect inferior to the Cuban products. An American tobacco 
trust has been formed to purchase all of the factories and deposits of 
tobacco in Venezuela. Its capital amounts to $5,000,000, and profit 
on its transactions is already shown. 

MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN. 

Cultivation.—Maize, or Indian corn, is successfully grown in all of 
the States, and in every kind of soil from the level of the sea upward 


158 


VENEZUELA. 


to 2,800 meters, though it thrives best between 500 and 1,000 meters. 
There are about 20,000 hectares of land (about 50,000 acres) devoted 
to the cultivation of corn, and the total amount produced is estimated 
at 120,000,000 kilograms. 

Preparation.—Maize is, to a very large extent, the true bread plant 
of Venezuela, especially in the interior of the country. It is scarcely, 
if at all, used for making corn meal; but the grains, after having been 
soaked in water and pounded in a wooden mortar (called jnlon) or by 
mechanical process to remove the hull, are mashed into a dough and 
made into arcpas, rt of a biscuit shape, which are eaten warm. These, 
though very white, are rather heavy. Most of the corn produced 
in Venezuela is cultivated in the rainy season and sown during that 
time on the mountains as well as in the plains. 

For provender successive crops are thickly sown and fed as green 
fodder ( malojo ) to horses, mules, asses, and horned cattle. 

Production.—The production is sufficient for the wants of the country, 
but could be increased to cause it to become one of the principal staple 
export products of Venezuela. 


BEANS. 


Cultivation.—Beans are successfully grown in all the States, and a 
great variety of them is produced. 

Consumption.—Those having the greatest consumption are the black 
beans, the production of which meets the domestic demand. 

Production.—They grow at any time of the year and constitute one 
of the principal articles of domestic commerce in Venezuela. 


INDIA RUBBER, b 


Technical name.—The technical name of the india-rubber tree is, 
according to Linnaeus, jatropha elastica; Person calls it siphonia 
elastica; Scrcber, siphonia cahucha; Aublet, hebea guianensis , and 
Codazzi, goma elastica. 

Common name.—Rubber is called in Venezuela caucho or goma; in 
Brazil, seringa or borracha; in Bolivia and Peru, goma or jeve; in 
Colombia, caucho or jebe, and in Mexico and Central America, hide or 
caucho. 

Discovery of rubber.—Rubber was discovered in French Guiana in 
1751, but it was first described by the members of the French com¬ 
mission which went to Peru in 1785. 

Varieties of hevea.—According to Buscalioni, Ackerman, and Brown, 
who have made a special study of the cultivation of the rubber tree, 
the varieties of the hevea are produced in the Amazon region and that 
of its affluents, the varieties being brasilensis , paucifora discolor , lutea , 


a Arepa means corn in the Cumanagoto dialect. 

& “El Caucho en Venezuela, 1903—Tavera-Acosta.” 



Handbook of Venezuela. 



TRUNK OF RUBBER TREE (HEVEA BRASILENSIS). 

Method of extracting sap. (Courtesy of Mr. A. Stockman.) 









INDIA RUBBER. 


159 


etc., which are the same that are found in the upper Orinoco, Rio 
Negro, Cassiquiare, and Siapa, in Venezuela. 

Venezuelan varieties.—The rubber which is produced in the Orinoco, 
Casiquiare, and Rio Negro sections of Venezuela comes from forests 
of heveas which belong to the family of the euforbiaeeas. There are 
also other gutiferous trees of the same family, such as th qJicus elastica 
pendare , masaranduba , pairo , and marima , etc. The first and last 
mentioned produce more sap than the lieveas , but it is less elastic and 
thicker. 

Zone of production.—Besides the rubber forests above mentioned, 
which cover an area of more than 30,000,000 hectares, for the exploita¬ 
tion of which many million people would be required, the rubber tree 
is a natural product throughout Venezuelan Guiana and the Andes 
range, and is to be found in plentiful quantities in some States of the 
east, west, and south of Venezuela. The Government has strictly for¬ 
bidden that the rubber trees be cut down. 

Growth of trees.—The lieveas of Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru are exactly 
the same as those of Venezuela ( siphonia elastica ), and grow between 
the fifth degree of latitude north and twelfth degree of latitude south, 
either singly or in groups. They attain a height of from 15 to 30 
meters and a thickness of 1 to 2 meters and even more. The best soil 
is that which is irrigated by periodical floods of the rivers. The trunk 
of the tree grows straight and high; the leaves are always trifoliate 
and in the form of lancets of different size, and its flowers are small 
and grow in bunches. The growth of a tree is not rapid and is only 
productive after six years. 

Cultivation.—The rubber tree must be planted at a distance of from 
4 to 5 meters from each other and must be shaded. When a plan¬ 
tation is sown in a place covered by trees some of the larger ones 
are left to serve as shade. A hole must be dug in the ground to a 
depth of 40 centimeters and a radius of 1 square meter, in the center 
of which one of the small trees is planted, for which purpose seeds 
have been previously raised in a nursery from which they are trans¬ 
planted. Before the tree begins to produce it is necessary to keep 
the soil free from grass and underbrush. 

Extraction of the rubber.—There are several systems in use for the 
extraction of the juice of the rubber tree, consisting in making one or 
several incisions at different heights in the trunks of the trees, from 
which oozes the juice, which is collected in receptacles. 

In Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru these receptacles are made of tin or 
pottery. The method employed in the rubber region of Venezuela is 
similar to the above. 

The incisions on the trees may be repeated daily, but if the latter 
are not in a good state of cultivation it is advisable to discontinue 
making them after five years and let the trees rest for two years. 


160 


VENEZUELA. 


Smoking of the juice.—The process of fumigating the rubber is 
effected in order to evaporate the liquid part and obtain the coagula¬ 
tion of the juice. There are several systems employed, which consist 
in placing the juice in an oven heated by very carboniferous woods 
which produce a great quantity of smoke. It mixes with the coagu¬ 
lated matter, from which balls of 150 kilograms are made. 

Some of this rubber is pressed so as to eliminate the small quantity 
of water it may still contain. The rubber thus treated has a yellow 
appearance and afterwards turns completely black. 

Coagulation of the juice.—The coagulation of the juice, without the 
necessity of fumigation, is effected by using the following formula: 

Solution A: Phenic acid, 4 grams; alcohol, sufficient quantity to dissolve it; 
water, 80 per cent. 

Solution B: Sulphuric acid, 2 grams; water, 20 per cent. 


I 


These two solutions are mixed and the juice treated by this mixture 
coagulates immediately. By this system, which is considered the best, 
25 kilograms of juice coagulate within five minutes, treated by 50 grams 
of sulphuric acid and 100 of phenic acid, and the product thus obtained 
takes the form of the receptacle in which it is coagulated. The color 
of the rubber is absolutely white, and although not so compact as the 
smoked kind has the great advantage of being deprived of the charac¬ 
teristic bad smell of rubber. Due to the rapidity with which the 
rubber is coagulated and dried, which reduces it 50 to 63 per cent in 
fort} T -eight hours, the rubber workers have not adopted it. 

Gathering of rubber.—In 1837 the rubber tree was known in the 
Venezuelan section of Rio Negro, and for the last forty years rubber 
has been obtained in the regions of Orinoco, Cassiquiare, and Rio 
Negro. In 1860 a French merchant settled first in Solano and other 
places of the Cassiquiare where the rubber forest is thickest. 

In 1900 to 1901 rubber was gathered by 1,400 Indians and in 1901 


to 1902 by 2,444. 

The population of the Amazon territory is about 41,000. More 
than twenty tribes of Indians inhabit it, but only the baniba, baria, 
and maquiritare, and some of the macos, carros, piaroas, and puinabes 
gather rubber. 

Production per tree.—In the Orinoco region the lievea tree produces 
40 to 50 grams of juice; in Rio Negro from 80 to 100, and in Casi- 
quiare from 125 to 150. In December and January 200 trees produce 
12 to 14 kilograms of juice, which is equal to 6 to 7 kilograms of rub¬ 
ber. In April the juice contains more water and produces only 4 to 5 
kilograms of rubber. 

In the Casiquiare and Rio Negro region, in December and January, 
the yield of 200 hevea trees is 13 to 15 kilograms of juice, which is 
equal to 6^ to 7^ grams of rubber; the production is, therefore, from 
60 to 70 grams of rubber per tree. 


TONKA BEANS. 


161 


Rubber crops, 1901-2.—The crop of 1901 of the Amazon territory of 
Venezuela (gathered in three to four months) produced 135,000 kilo¬ 
grams of rubber, and that of 1902 (in two months), 101,287 kilograms. 
The rubber crop of the Yuruari territory for 1901 amounted to 
1,810,000 kilograms. The aggregate rubber crop of Venezuela must 
have been much larger, because these products, as well as many others 
of the country which are gathered in the vast extension of territory 
bordering on Brazil, such as tonka beans, the palm libers, used for 
brooms, and the Rio Negro nuts, often called Brazilian nuts, con¬ 
sidered indigenous to the latter country, are exported by way of the 
port of Para, and reach American and European markets as if they 
were of Brazilian origin. 

Castilloa rubber.—This tree is cultivated with good results in many 
places situated near Ocumare. It produces an average of 95 per cent 
of pure rubber, and each tree yields about 1 pound of juice. The 
wholesale price is from $10 to $50 per 16 kilograms. 

WHEAT. 

Cultivation.—This product (Triticum vulgare ) was brought by the 
Spaniards at the beginning of the conquest and was cultivated in 
Aragua, Barquisimeto, Trujillo, Merida, and the Tachira. Cultiva¬ 
tion is at present restricted to Trujillo, Merida, and the Tachira. 
The high table-lands and valleys in the mountainous regions of west¬ 
ern Venezuela are best suited to the cultivation of wheat and line 
crops of this grain are raised. It forms the chief breadstuff of all 
classes of the country. 

Production.—With improved implements for wheat farming and 
greater facilities for transportation to the seaboard the production and 
consumption would not be limited to that part of the country, and as 
railwa 3 r s are being extended in the Trujillo and Merida sections it will 
soon offer the necessary facilities for bringing the crops to the vari¬ 
ous markets on the coast which now get their supply of wheat from 
the United States. 

TONKA KEANS. 

Tonka beans zone.—Of aromatic plants, the one which is exported on 
a larger scale is the sarrajna or the Tonka bean, the kernel of which 
furnishes a delicious perfume, and which abounds in the vast forests 
of the Amazon territory and the Cedeno district in Guiana, forming 
one of the staple and most valuable productions of those regions, 
watered by the Orinoco or its tributaries. 

Production.—The bush which yields this fruit is called Dijpterix 
odorata , and begins its production at the third year. The seeds, 
which are long and black, when dry, have a peculiar and very odorous 
perfume and are used by some to flavor tobacco. Almost the entire 
crop of Venezuelan savrcijjict is exported by way of Ciudad Bolivar to 
4a—04-11 



162 


VENEZUELA. 


Hamburg or to New York. The process generally employed in the 
gathering of the Tonka beans caused the destruction of the plants, 
and the Government has been obliged to take precautions for the pro¬ 
tection of the sarrapiales existing on Government territory. Con¬ 
cessions have been granted in the district of Caura for the farming of 
the public lands to be used for this culture. 

VANILLA. 

Production.—Venezuela produces an uncultivated vanilla plant called 
“ Vainilla lutescens” but the one commonly known to commerce is the 
aromatic u Vainilla planifola” The cultivation of this product has 
not yet been fostered to any great extent. 

Zone of Cultivation.—Venezuelan vanilla grows very readily in the 
rich black soil of the States of Falcon, Lara, Bolivar, Bermudez, and 
Zamora, though the official statistics do not furnish any figures on the 
quantities exported nor on the country’s production. 

COPAIBA OIL. 

The resinous extract of copaiba comes from the u Cojoaifera offici¬ 
nalis ,” known in Venezuelan Guiana by the name of “ Cambhna ” or 
“ Cambiniba .” It comes from the tree in form of an oil of very 
agreeable odor. This tree is found growing wild in the woods of the 
Orinoco, in the forests of eastern Venezuela, and in the basin of the 
lake of Maracaibo. The exports of copaiba oil during the years 1895- 
96 reached 17,716 kilograms, valued at 43,220 bolivars, of which more 
than a third was sent to the United States. 

INDIGO. 

This product was introduced in Venezuela in 1777, and was planted 
near La Victoria and later in many places. The best quality was pro¬ 
duced in San Sebastian. Due to the high price attained by coffee 
many years ago the cultivation of indigo was abandoned, although in . 
1802 the exportation amounted to 1,876,510 pounds, worth $2,250,000. 

v 

COCOANUTS. 

The cocoanut ( Cocos nucifera) is a natural product of Venezuela, and 
there are very extensive plantations in the Zulia, Carabobo, Bolivar, 
Barcelona, and Cumana regions. Exports of this product are consid¬ 
erable, as it is shown in the respective chapter of commercial statistics. 

FOREST PRODUCTS. 

Forest zone,—The forest zone of Venezuela produces in great abun¬ 
dance natural plantations of zarrapia, rubber, copaiba, vanilla, chiqui- 
chique sarsaparilla, dividivi, precious, ornamental, dyeing, and tanning 
woods and barks, fiber plants, resins, and medicinal plants and shrubs 
in great variety and quantity, 


ORNAMENTAL WOODS. 


163 


Extension of zone.—This vast region extends from the Gulf of 
Maracaibo over the mountains of Yaracuy, San Felipe, Aroa, Tucacas, 
Turen, San Camilo, Guayana, and its territories, and from the virgin 
forests, which are on the slopes of the mountains of Trujillo and Bar- 
quisimeto, to the fertile woodlands of the State of Zamora. It covers 
more than one-lialf of the territory of Venezuela, the exact area being 
797,610 square kilometers, of which 785,590 square kilometers are still 
virgin lands. From this region Venezuela can derive natural resources 
of unlimited wealth when sufficient hands are available, and it is one 
of the principal prospects of future natural growth of the country. 

Division of zone.—The following table shows the division of the 
forest zone of Venezuela: 


Divisions. 

Square 

kilometers. 

Divisions. 

Square 

kilometers. 

General forest zone... 

797,640 
785,591 

Public forest lands. 

226,102 
123,386 

General virgin lands. 

Private forest land’s. 


Forestry exhibits in 1883.—Of the 600 species of woods to be found 
in the forest zone of Venezuela, 2,070 specimens were exhibited at the 
National Exposition held in Caracas in 1883, as follows: 


Locality. 

Specimens 

exhibited. 

Locality. 

Specimens 

exhibited. 

Federal District. 

5 

Lara State. 

258 

Miranda State. 

578 

Falcdn State. 

285 

Ca rabobo State. 

276 

Los Andes State. 

115 

Bermudez State... 

201 

Territories and colonies. 

69 

Bolivar State 

34 



Zamora State. 

249 

Total. 

2,070 





Forestry exhibits in 1893.—At the World’s Columbian Exposition of 
1893 Venezuela exhibited 115 kinds of woods and, 20 of dyeing and 
tanning woods and barks as follows: 


ORNAMENTAL WOODS. 

Acapro ( Tecoma spec.). A tree of from 20 to 25 meters high, trunk 6 to 8 meters, 
girth 0.80 to 1.20 meters. Specific weight of dry wood 1.25. It is almost inde¬ 
structible but difficult to work. 

Aceite ( Copaifera officinalis). Height of tree 10 to 15 meters, trunk 4 to 5, girth 0.60 
to 0.75 meters. Wood of a yellowish red color; specific weight 0.75. 

Aceituno (botanical name unknown). Barquisimeto. 

Achivare ( Ficus dendrocida). The tree is also called “matapalo,” i. e.. “tree killer, on 
account of its growing on and around other trees which it slowly strangles to 
death in proportion as its aerial roots develop round the supporting stem. The 
wood is of little value. 

Aco (Land io carpuspunctatus) . Height of tree 10 to 15 meters, trunk 4 to 5, girth 
0.60 to 0.75; specific weight of wood 0.75. The wood is strong and tough, of a 
darkish color with some lighter veins; it keeps well under water. 

Aguacate ( Persea gratissima). A fine-grained wood of reddish color; sometimes with 
some darker veins; not very hard; specific weight 0.65. The tree is cultivated 
for its fruit, and attains a height of 12 to 15 meters, trunk 4 to 5, circumference 
0.75 to 1.20. 






































164 


VENEZUELA. 


Aguacatillo ( Persea spec.). The wood is used in boat building and for making fur¬ 
niture. Logs of 16 inches square are not uncommon. 

Ajicito (Capparis pcicliaca). A small tree with a light-colored wood of not much 
hardness, used for cabinetwork. 

Albaricoque (botanical name not known). A fine-grained wood, not very hard, used 
for cabinetwork. 

Alcomoque ( Bowdichia virgilioides) . The tree is low and has generally a somewhat 
stunted appearance. Its wood is very hard and durable; the sapwood is whit¬ 
ish, the heartwood is almost black, showing grayish spots on the cross section. 
Specific weight 1.08. Very common in the llanos or plains of the interior. 

Algarrobo ( Hymensea courbaril). A very hard and heavy wood (specific weight 
0.95), of dark yellowish color with some greenish veins; it has straight fibers 
and is free of knots, so that it can be easily worked. It is especially used for 
crushing wheels and similar things in coffee estates. Height of tree 20 to 25 
meters, of trunk 7 to 8, girth 0.75 to 1.20. 

Amargo (botanical name not known). Barquisimeto. 

Anda-Arriba (botanical name not known). Coro, Maracaibo. 

Angelino ( Homalium racemosum ). The wood is of olive color, not very hard, has 
straight fibers and a specific weight of 0.85. Height of tree 20 to 25 meters, of 
trunk 6 to 8, circumference 0.90 to 1.20. 

Apamate (Tabebuya spec.). A tolerably good wood for building, however not very 
durable. Height of tree 15 to 20 meters, of trunk 5 to 8, circumference 0.90 
to 1.10. 

Araguaney ( Tecoma spectabilis) . The heartwood is of great hardness, of a dark 
olive color, and has a specific weight of 1.25. Height of tree 20 to 25 meters, of 
trunk 6 to 8, circumference 0.75 to 1.20. The flowers are precocious; that is to 
say, appear before the leaves. 

Aspai ( Myrodia turbinata). A fine-grained and light-colored wood, easy to work 
and used by cabinetmakers. The tree grows in the eastern States (Camami, 
Maturin, Guyana). 

Azaharito ( Tabemcemontcina sp.). A strong and hard wood of a yellowisli-red 
color, slightly veined with grayish green. The fibers are somewhat interwoven, 
so that it splits with great difficulty. Specific weight 0.92. Barquisimeto. 

Balaustre (Centrolobium robustum). Wood red colored with dark veins; it is easily 
worked and takes a good polish. Much used for cabinetwork, also for house 
and ship building. Height of tree 25 m., of trunk 8 to 10, girth 3 to 4; specific 
weight of wood 0.75. The tree is also known by the name of cartan. 

Bejrco de Cadena ( Schnella splendens). Remarkable for its flattened stems, which 
• when young are exceedingly flexible and used as thongs. The Spanish name 
signifies ‘ ‘ chain vine, ’ ’ in allusion to this property. 

Berraco ( Tabemxmontanapsychotriirfolia). The wood is fibrous, not very hard, and 
of an olive color, sometimes with darker veins; specific weight 0.60; it is easily 
worked and takes a good polish. Height of tree 8 to 10 m., of trunk 3 to 4, 
girth 0.75 to 1.00. 

Birote (botanical name not known, but probably a bignoniacea) . Wood very hard 
and durable, and much used for underground work. Specific weight 0.95. 

Borracho ( Piscidia Lrythrina). A light wood which, however, resists the attacks of 
insects on account of a poisonous substance contained in the sap. It is used 
for ordinary cabinetwork. 

Bosria (Zanthoxylum ocliroxylum) . Wood yellow and not very hard, with many 
pores and narrow medullary rays. The tree is of medium size and grows every¬ 
where. 

Bujurito (botanical name not known). Not very abundant, but of a good size and 
yielding useful timber. 


ORNAMENTAL WOODS. 


165 


Cabimbo ( Protium insigne). A light and somewhat resinous wood, suitable for all 
kinds of work not exposed to dampness. The tree attains very large dimensions. 

Cachicamo (botanical name not known). A large tree, which gives boards of from 12 
to 24 inches broad. The wood is useful for shipbuilding, being almost inde¬ 
structible under water. 

Cacbimbo (botanical name not known). A small tree, or large shrub, with a wood 
hard like bone, formerly used by the Indians for making their short tobacco 
pipes. 

Caimito ( Chrysophyllum cainito ). The wood is of dark brown color and rather hard, 
but rarely used. Barcelona. 

Canali (botanical name unknown). Barquisimeto. 

Canalete ( Aspidosperma txcelsum). The tree grows to a height of from 25 to 30 
meters, with a trunk of 8 to 10 meters, and is sometimes 1 meter thick. The 
lower part of the trunk is generally surrounded by large buttresses. It is abun¬ 
dant in the forests of Maracaibo and Guiana. The wood is yellowish-gray, easy 
to work when fresh, but getting harder when it dries. The fibers run very 
straight, so that it splits easily. It is much used for making oars and paddles. 

Candelero {Oreopanaxcapitatum). Wood whitish, rather soft and light. Barcelona. 

Canoita (botanical name not known). A tree that grows rather abundantly in the 
States of Coro and Barquisimeto, and furnishes good beams and rafters. 

Canada (botanical name not known). A very large tree. The wood is especially 
used in shipbuilding; it is yellowish with many darker veins, very strong and 
compact, and deserves to be better known, as it is certainly one of the finest 
cabinet woods. Maracaibo. 

Canafistola macho ( Cassia brasiliensis) . Wood somewhat reddish, of medium hardness 
and weight, but not much used. The tree is a glorious sight when covered by 
thousands of its golden yellow flowers. 

Canagnato (botanical name unknown). Barquisimeto. 

Caoba (Swietenia Mahagoni). The well-known mahogany wood. The tree attains a 
height of from 20 to 25 meters, while its trunk measures sometimes 8 to 10 
meters, with a girth of from 1.50 to 2.50. Specific weight of wood 0.82. 

Caobano ( Brunella comocladifolia) . Wood somewhat similar to mahogany, though of 
inferior quality; it is principally used for boards and sheathing, 

Caobano bianco ( Guarea Ruagea). Wood yellowish white, rather light and of little 
hardness; used especially for boxes. 

Caracolx ( Anacardium rkinocarpus) . A very large tree; the wood, however, is not 
very valuable, and used especially for making boats and canoes, also for boxes. 

Caritivano (a species of Rutacese). The tree is rather abundant in the forests of 
Maracaibo, and attains large dimensions. The wood is fine grained, white as 
ivory, but getting a yellowish hue after long exposure to air. 

Carangano (botanical name not known). Maracaibo. 

Cartan. (See Balaustre.) 

Carne asada ( Rliopala complanata). Wood reddish, fibers somewhat wavy and rather 
thick; specific weight, 0.93. Used for cabinetwork, but not very easily worked. 

Catati (botanical name not known). From the forests of Cumand. 

Caudero (botanical name not known). Maracaibo. 

Caujaro ( Cordia alba). A tolerably good wood for building purposes, which, how¬ 
ever, does not stand well humidity. The tree attains a height of from 12 to 15 
meters, its trunk 4 to 5, with a girth of from 0.75 to 1. 

Cedro amargo ( Cedrela odorata ) . The bitter cedar wood is perhaps the one which is 
more frequently used for ordinary cabinetwork than any other, owing to its 
being so very easily worked and proof against the attacks of all kinds of insects. 

Cedro dulce ( Bursera altissima). Wood somewhat resinous, light, and rather spongy; 
it is used for boards, sheathing, etc. The tree is of very large dimensions. 


166 


VENEZUELA. 


Ceibo (several species of Bombax and Eriodendron). All are very large trees, growing 
very fast; the wood is soft and light, and used especially for making large dug- 
out canoes. 

Cenicero ( Pera tomentosa). Wood of a grayish-red color with darker veins, rather 
hard, of a fibrous texture, hut fine grained; specific weight, 0.80. It is a very 
handsome cabinet wood. Height of tree^ 10 to 12 meters; of trunk, 3 to 5; girth, 
0.75 to 1.20. 

Chipororo (botanical name unknown). Barquisimeto. 

Chiripa (botanical name not known). From the forests of Cumanfi. 

Clavellino {Cxsalpinia clavellino) . From Barquisimeto. 

Clavito ( Erythroxylon spec.). Used especially for making walking sticks. 

demon ( Thespesia p>opulnea). A small tree yielding a handsome wood which is easily 
worked and takes a good polish. Rather uncommon. 

Coco de mono (several species of Lecythis). High trees with a reddish-yellow wood, 
which is rather hard and heavy and used as well for building purposes as for 
cabinetwork. 

Congrina (botanical name not known). Abundant and very suitable for building 
purposes, especially underground. It gives square logs of 20 inches each side. 

Copaiba. (See Aceite.) 

Copey ( Clusia rosea). Wood of a reddish color, rather heavy (specific weight, 0.80); 
but little used. 

Cruceta real (Thevetia neriifolia). Wood soft, but rather durable. Barcelona. 

Cncharo. (See Paraguatan.) 

Curarire (appears to belong to the bignoniacex) . Color gray, with dark veins; it splits 
easily and is rather hard and very durable. Maracaibo, Barquisimeto. 

Cuspa ( Galipea cusparia). Of whitish-yellow color, rather heavy and strong; specific 
weight, 0.90. 

Daguaro ( Cxsalpinia spec..). Wood reddish, similar to Balaustre; excellent for 
building purposes and cabinetwork. The tree reaches a height of about 15 meters 
and grows especially in the forests of Maracaibo. 

Dividive ( Cxsalpinia coriaria). A large tree, reaching sometimes a height of 30 meters, 
while its trunk measures about 10 meters, with a girth of from 1.50 to 2.50. It 
grows in the hot lowlands and yields a fruit used for tanning leather. The wood 
is very heavy (specific weight, 1.30), strong and fine grained; the sap wood is 
whitish yellow, the heartwood black and almost as hard as iron. It is used for 
Avheels in mills and turnery ware. 

Durote {Bocoa provacensis). A high tree with a very hard and fine-grained wood of 
a beautiful reddish color, which takes a splendid polish. It is one of the finest 
cabinet woods. 

Ebano ( Cxsalpinia ebano and C. punctata). Wood black, with some veins of other 
colors, very strong and fine grained. Specific weight, 1.15. It is common in 
Maracaibo, although not much used. Height of tree, 20 to 25 meters; trunk, 8 to 
10; girth, 1 to 2. 

Echahumo. (See Araguaney.) 

Estoraque ( Myrospermum spec.). A large tree with an aromatic wood, which is very 
elastic and generally of dark-brown color. It is used for staves. 

Flor amarilla ( T. chrysanlha). The wood is very much like Araguaney. 

Gateado ( Astronium graveolens). The tree is also known by the names of diomate and 
tibigaro , especially in the western part of Venezuela. The wood is dark colored, 
very strong and hard, and takes a fine polish, so that it ranks among the best 
cabinet woods. Specific weight, 1.30. 

Granadillo ( Brya ebenus). Very hard; the sap wood is yellowish, the heartwood 
brownish. Specific weight, 1.32. Barcelona. 


ORNAMENTAL WOODS. 


167 


Guacimo ( Guazuma ulmifolia). Of a white-grayish color with a somewhat reddish 
hue and occasionally some dark veins; it is fibrous, not very fine grained, and 
comparatively light. Specific weight, 0.56. Not much used. 

Guaimaro (botanical name not known). A large tree, growing abundantly in the 
forests of Maracaibo, where it is also known under the name of cliaro. The 
heartwood is of a reddish color with delicate viens of other shades; the sap- 
wood is yellowish white with dark markings, both being of a fine-grained texture 
and taking a beautiful polish, so that they are very desirable for fine cabinet¬ 
work. The fruit contains an edible seed, said to be of good taste. 

Guarataro ( Vitex spec.). Wood yellowish white, fine grained, hard,* and strong. 
The tree is of a good size, but not very common. 

Guatacare ( Chytroma idatimon). A good-sized tree, with a hard and rather heavy 
wood (specific weight, 0.90) which is very elastic, of a dark-brown color, but 
not very strong. It is suitable for ordinary cabinetwork; however, does not 
stand humidity well. 

Guayacan ( Guayacum officinal). Wood exceedingly hard and tough, the fibers cross¬ 
ing each other, so that it does not split. The sapwood is of a yellowish color; 
the heartwood is brown with dark greenish viens and markings. Specific 
weight when perfectly dry, 1.12 (in the fresh state, 1.30 to 1.36). It is used for 
turnery work, cart axles, teeth of indented wheels, etc. 

Guayabito (Eugenia punicifolia). A fine-grained and very strong wood of a coffee- 
with-milk color, and some paler veins. Specific weight, 0.90. 

Guayabo de Montana ( Eugenia moritziana). A good-sized tree, growing frequently in 
mountain forests. The wood is hard and heavy and of a yellowish color, highly 
elastic and very durable. It is especially used for rafters on account of its great 
traverse resistance. 

"Huesito ( Prockia crucis). Wood whitish, not very hard, but close grained and 
pretty strong. Caracas, Carabobo, Barquisimeto. 

Xagunero (Pterocarpus draco). A middle-sized tree which yields a somewhat red¬ 
dish wood suitable for every kind of cabinetwork. 

Laurel (Nectandra laurel). Laurel bianco (Oreodaphne leucoxylon). Laurel capucbino 
(Aydendron laurel). Laurel negro ( Nectandra turbacensis). The wood of all 
these trees is strong, though not very heavy (specific weight, 0.65 to 0.75), fine 
grained, and more or less aromatic. The color is variable. It is very durable 
and easily worked, and much used for cabinetwork, also for boats and larger 
river vessels. 

Lecbero ( Euphorbia caracasana and Sapiuin aucuparium). Wood whitish, soft, and 
light; it is little used, though it gives boards and sheathing which are not 
attacked by insects. 

Limoncillo (Bravaisia foribunda). Wood yellow and very fine grained; specific 
weight, 0.65. Used for light cabinetwork. 

Mahomo ( Lonchocarpus sp.). Very hard and elastic; it is much used for making 
jaunts of wheels. The white variety is said to be better than the dark one, 
which is less durable and resistant. Barcelona. 

Mamdn ( Melicocca bijuga). Wood hard and heavy (specific weight, 0.90), compact 
arid close grained, color yellowish with very narrow somewhat darker veins. 
It 'being a fruit tree, the wood is seldom made use of. 

Mamon chusco (botanical name not known). Maracaibo. 

Mangle Colorado ( Rhizophora mangle). Wood red, strong, and heavy (specific weight, 
1.10). Much used for rafters, large quantities being shipped from Maracaibo 
to other parts of the coast. 

Manteca (botanical name not known). Rather uncommon; the wood is suitable for 
building purposes and cabinetwork. 


168 


VENEZUELA. 


Manzanilla de Montana ( Rhus juglandifolium). Wood yellowish red and tolerably 
hard; specific weight, 0.75. Of little use. 

Mapurite ( Zanthoxylon spec.). A yellowish wood which, when fresh, has a smell 
like that of the skunk. 

Mara Blanca ( Bursera karsteniana) . Wood resinous and light, of whitish color, and 
not very durable. Barcelona. 

Mara rosada ( Bursera heterophylla). Very much like the last species. 

Marfil (see Caritivano). 

Maria {Calophyllum calaba) . A close-grained, yellowish wood, susceptible of a good 
polish. Maracaibo. 

Mecoque (botanical name unknown). Maracaibo. 

Montanayare (botanical name not known). Uncommon; but suitable for building 
purposes; gives square logs of 15 to 18 inches broad. 

Mora ( Dimorphandra excelsa). One of the loftiest trees in the forests of Guayana; 
the wood is heavier than water, dark red, close grained, and rather hard. It is 
used in boat building. 

Mucurutu (Couroupitci guianensis). A close grained and hard wood of a handsome 
yellowish color; the tree grows to a very large size. Guiana, Maracaibo. 

Naburucone (botanical name not known). Can only be got during the rainy season; 
logs of 24 inches square are not uncommon. 

Naranjillo (see Limoncillo). 

Nispero ( Achras sapota ). Wood very strong, hard, and heavy (specific weight, 1.05), 
of a reddish color and taking a beautiful polish. It is excellent for making 
staves, but little used, as the tree is much valued for its fruit. 

Naure (botanical name unknown). Barcelona. 

Olivo ( Jac-quinia armillaris). A yellowish, fine-grained wood, only used for small 
cabinetwork, the tree never growing to considerable size. 

Palo de arco ( Tecomci spec.). A very strong and elastic wood from the upper Orinoco, 
of a dark red color; specific weight, 0.95. 

Palo de rosa ( Physocalymna florida ). A very beautiful wood from the Territory 
Yuruary, suitable for the most elegant pieces of cabinetwork. The tree is of a 
very large size. 

Palo sano ( Guayacum sanctum) . Exceedingly hard, especially when perfectly dry. 
Specific weight, 1.30. Barcelona. 

Pan de acure (botanical name not known). Rather uncommon; wood used for 
building purposes. 

Pan de trigo (botanical name not known). Barcelona. 

Paraguatan ( Condaminea tinctorea.) A rose-colored wood, which, however, loses its 
color by exposure to air and light. It is not very hard and easily worked, takes 
also a fine polish. Height of tree, 20 to 25 meters; trunk, 8 to 12; girth, 1.50 to 3. 

Pardillo {Cordia gerascanthus), Pardillo bianco ( C. alba), Pardillo de monte {C. geras- 
canthoides), Pardillo bobo {Cordia spec.). The different species of Cordia yield 
handsome woods, which are easily worked and take a good polish, and are 
therefore much used by cabinetmakers. 

Parature, Paratnre de rebalso, Parature de tierra firme. Three precious woods from 
the Territory Amazonas, the botanical origin of which is not known. 

Pdrfano (botanical name unknown). Barcelona. 

Pildn ( Andira racemosa ). Common and suitable for building purposes and cabinetwork. • 

Puy {Tecoma serratifolia). Very hard and almost indestructible, specific weight 1.30. 
It is of a grayish color with almost black veins. It contains an acid substance, 
for it turns reddish yellow when touched by an alkaline body. It is highly 
esteemed for building purposes as well as for cabinetwork and turnery ware. 

Quiebrahacha ( Ccesalpinia punctata). Wood very hard, but the tree does not grow to 
a large size. Barcelona. 


DYEING AND TANNING WOODS AND BARKS. 


169 


Roble bianco (Platymiscium polystachiyum). The wood is of an inferior quality and 
seldom used. Caracas, Barquisimeto, etc. 

Roble Colorado (Tecoma pentaphylla). Very hard and heavy, of a dark red color. It 
is excellent for building purposes and also for cabinetwork. The tree is of large 
size. 

Rosa de Montana ( Broivneci graudiceps). Dark red, with black veins and markings, 
very hard and tine grained, specific weight, 1.05. The tree is of very large size. 

Saraan ( Pithecolobium saman). A very large tree, which yields a wood of rather 
middling qualities. 

Sasafras ( Acroclidium chrysophylluvi and Nectandra cymbarum). Very large trees, 
with a scented wood of excellent properties for building purposes. From the 
second species very large dug-out boats are made for navigating the Orinoco 
and the other rivers of the interior. 

Say ( Weinmannia balbisiana). Wood reddish, hard, and very fine grained, but the 
tree is not common enough for its being used more frequently. 

Sereipo (see Estoraque). 

Snspiro (botanical name unknown). Coro, Barquisimeto. 

Tacamabaca ( Protium heptaphyllum) . A resinous soft wood, which is sometimes used 
for boards. 

Taguapire (botanical name unknown). Barcelona. 

Taparo ( Crescentia cujete). Wood yellowish white, close grained, and rather hard 
and strong. The tree is of medium size, and grows all over the country. 

Toco ( Cratxva gynandra). Very light and soft, generally of a whitish color, though 
some samples show reddish veins. Sawn into boards for boxes. 

Totumillo (botanical name not known). Said to be a large tree, which grows rather 
abundantly in the State of Carabobo. It is a good wood for building purposes. 

Tree ferns. There are many species of tree ferns in the flora of Venezuela, and the 
ligneous part of their stems is occasionally used for inlaid work in fine cabinet¬ 
making. 

Tribunal (botanical name not known). Barquisimeto. 

Trompillo ( Lsetia hirtella). A good-sized tree, which yields an excellent wood for 
ordinary cabinetwork. 

Trueno (botanical name not known). Barquisimeto. 

Urape ( Bciuhinia multinervia) . A fine wood of redish color, which takes a handsome 
polish; the tree, however, grows seldom to a good size. 

Vera ( Guayacum arboreum). A large-sized tree yielding a wood similar to Guaycicdn. 

Yaque negro ( Prosopis cumanensis). Very tough and elastic, but not of large size. 
Barcelona. 

Zapatero (Peltogyne floribunda). Color yellowish to black, very strong and rather 
heavy (specific weight, 1.08). It is excellent for building purposes and cabinet¬ 
work. 


DYEING AND TANNING WOODS AND BARKS. 

Fustic ( Maclura tinctorea ). Yields a well-known yellow dye, and is exported from 
Ciudad Bolivar, Carupano, Barcelona, Puerto Cabello, and Maracaibo. The 
Barcelona wood is considered the best; it sells in France at 15 to 16 francs per 
100 kilograms, while the Maracaibo wood is about 4 francs cheaper. This latter 
port, howover, makes the largest shipments, amounting to nearly 7,000,000 
kilograms annually. 

Brazil wood ( Hxmatoxylon brasiletto). Exported principally from Maracaibo, but 
getting scarce. 

Amarillo ( Aspidosperma vargasii ). A large tree belonging to the family of dogbanes. 
The bark yields a yellow dye and contains also some tannin. 


170 


VENEZUELA. 


Onotillo ( Vismia ferruginea , of the St. John’s wort family). The bark yields a red¬ 
dish yellow, somewhat resinous substance which can be used like Gamboge. 

Rasura de Cucharo. Shavings of the wood of Condaminea tinctorea , used for dyeing 
yellowish red. 

Bosua bark ( Zanthoxylum ochroxylum). Contains berberidine, and is therefore used 
for dyeing yellow. 

Onoto. The arnatto seeds ( Bixa orellana) are covered with a deep red pulp, which 
hardens when dry, and being separated from the seeds forms the arnatto of com¬ 
merce, used by dyers and varnish makers, also for coloring cheese and butter. 
The South-American Indians paint their bodies with it. 

Indigo, though one of the staple productions of Venezuela before the cultivation of 
coffee became generalized, is now of very little importance, only a few thou¬ 
sand pounds being exported annually from Puerto Cabello. The indigo plants 
( Indigofera anil and I. tinctorea ) are growing as weeds almost everywhere; it is 
nevertheless not probable that the manufacture of this commodity will come 
again to the front. 

Red Mangrove bark ( Rhizophora Mangle , or Mangle Colorado). It contains from 22 
to 33 per cent of tannin, according to the age of the tree, but likewise a red 
pigment which colors the leather. Price at La Guaira, $16 to $24 a ton. 

Dividivi. The pods of Cxsalpinia coriaria contain from 30 to 40 per cent of tannin, 
and form an important article of exportation from several ports of the Republic 
(about 5,000,000 kilograms annually), especially from Maracaibo. Nearly one- 
half of the exportation goes to France, where 100 kilograms fetch, more or less, 
25 francs, the cost price in Venezuela being about half as much. 

Gateado ( Astronium graveolens, fam. Therebinthaceae). The bark contains from 25 to 
30 per cent of tannin. 

Curtidor ( Weinmannia glabra). A tree belonging to the Saxifrage family, which 
grows rather abundantly on all the higher mountains of the country; its bark 
contains about 16 per cent of tannin. 

Curtidor de Sabana ( Byrsonima spicata, fam. of Malpighiaceae). The bark yields from 
20 to 25 per cent of tannin; however, is very rarely used. 

Say bark ( Weinmannia balbisiana). The bark of a small saxifragaceous tree, grow¬ 
ing on the higher mountains. It contains much tannin, and is occasionally 
used for tanning leather. 

Sortijero ( Calypthrantes clusisefolia). A myrtaceous tree of rather small size, growing 
in the western part of the Republic (Tdchira, Merida, Trujillo); its bark is rich 
in tannin. 

Urape ( Bauhinia multinervia, a cpesalpiniaceous tree). The bark yields a considera¬ 
ble quantity of tannin. 

Yagrumo ( Cecropia peltata, an urticaceous tree with large fan-shaped leaves and a 
hollow stem). The bark may be used for tanning. 

Aguacate ( Persea gratissima). The bark of this fruit tree might be used for tanning 
leather. 

« 

Cuji ( Acacia macracantha and other species). It is well known that the bark and 
fruits of many acacias are rich in tannin. 

Guayabo ( Psidium guava). The bark of this well-known myrtaceous fruit tree is very 
astringent and rich in tannin. 

GUMS AND RESINS. 

Algarrobo resin ( Hymensea courbaril). The resin exudes from the stem and roots 
of the tree and is often found in a semi fossil state in the soil. It may be 
used for making varnish, like copal. 


Handbook of Venezuela, 



BREAD FRUIT TREE. 

(Courtesy of Mr. A. Stockman.) 









MEDICINAL PLANTS. 


171 


Yabo resin (Cercidium viride). The resin exudes from the hark of the stem and 
branches, covering it in a continuous layer, as may be seen from the pieces of 
branches exhibited. It is used by soap manufacturers. The wood of the tree 
yields an ash containing a high percentage of potash, so that the same tree 
furnishes the necessary material for making an ordinary soap of good deter¬ 
gent properties. In some parts the tree is called Quica. 

Corobore resin (also called Algarrobo, Hymensea courbaril) . May be used for making 
varnish, like copal. 

Peraman. A black resin obtained from Moronobsea coccinea, a rubiaceous tree grow¬ 
ing in the Territories of Upper Orinoco and Amazonas; it is principally used 
for the calking of river boats. 

Tacamahaca. A resin exuding in considerable quantities from the wood of Protium 
heptaphyllum , a fast-growing tree belonging to the family of Burseracese. It 
is used in'medicine as an exciting toxic remedy. 

Carana. A resin very much like tacamahaca , and obtained from Protium caranna. 
Same use as tacamahaca. 

Guamacho gum {Peireskia guamacho). A leaf-bearing species of the cactus family; 
the gum is exuded by the woody stem and yields a refreshing mucilage. 

Santal bark. Under the name of sdndalo, a firm of Puerto Cabello has exported the 
wood and bark of what appears to be a rutaceous tree, which, however, is not 
botanically well known. 

Rubber. Some objects of rubber made by the Indians of the Orinoco. Large quanti¬ 
ties are extracted in Guiana and the Territories of Upper Orinoco and 
Amazonas, and shipped either via Ciudad Bolivar, or sent down the Rio Negro 
to Para, in Brazil. 

Pezjua ( Gaultheria lindeniana). A small shrub, with highly aromatic leaves, which 
grows abundantly in the mountains of Cumana. 

Tonka beans ( Dipteryx odorata ). A large tree which grows generally gregariously in 
certain parts of the forests of Guiana; it is also common in Brazil; however, 
the tonka beans from Pard are considered inferior to those from Ciudad 
Bolivar. In 1890 the exportation from this latter port was 79,810 kilograms, 
valued at 442,721 bolivars (about $85,000). The amount of beans collected 
varies much in different years on account of the weather. 

MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR CHEMICAL PRODUCTS. 

Angelon ( Angelonia salicarisefolia) . A powerful sudorific. The plant grows abun¬ 
dantly in moist places nearly everywhere. 

Bejuco moreno (Serjanid diversifolia) . Antisyphilitic. 

Palo amargo (botanical origin not known). The bark is said to be a good tonic and 
febrifuge. 

Guaco. Stems and leaves of a climbing plant ( Mikania gonoclada), which have the 
reputation of being an excellent blood purifier and a remedy against snake 
poison. 

Guachamacan ( Malouetia nitida, fam. of Apocynacese) . The milky sap of the wood 
contains a poisonous substance of highly narcotic properties. The plant grows 
abundantly on the banks of Middle Orinoco and Apure. 

Palo matia3 ( Croton malambo). The bark is aromatic and used as a stimulant. 

Pica malva. A plant of the composite family, and belonging probably to the genus 
Calea. All its parts are of an intensely bitter taste; the leaves macerated in 
water, rum, or wine are recommended as an excellent stomachic, and it is said 
that they give good results also in the treatment of scrofula and paludic fever. 

Santa Marfa ( Aristolochia spec.). Used as a tonic. 


172 


VENEZUELA. 


Arrayan root. The very astringent root of a myrtaceous plant, a decoction of which 
is recommended in the treatment of dysentery. 

Raiz de Mato ( Aristolochia barbata). An excellent tonic which deserves the attention 
of physicians. 

Polypode. The rhizome of Polypodium auratum, used in medicine as a blood purifier 
and antivenereal remedy. 

Sarsaparilla. Caracas sarsaparilla comes from a species of Smilax , which, botanically, 
is not yet perfectly known, as plants with male flowers hitherto have not been 
found. It is not exported, but only used by the druggists of the country, who 
pay the collectors $16 to $24 for the quintal of dry root. The import of foreign 
sarsaparilla is prohibited by the customs laws. 

Salomon bark ( Hedyosmum bourgoini). A small tree belonging to the family of 
Chloranthacese, growing in the higher parts of the mountains of Merida. It is 
aromatic, of a somewhat bitter and pungent taste, and used for making bitters. 

Cuspa bark. This is the true Angostura bark of druggists, derived from Galipea 
(Cusparia) officinalis. It is sometimes called “quina amarilla;” i. e., yellow 
quinquina, and used as an excellent tonic and febrifuge. 

Cinchona bark from Tocuyo ( Cinchona tucujensis). Though not containing much 
quinine, it is exported chiefly from Puerto Cabello. 

Cinchona bark, from Cinchona cordifolia, var. rotundifolia. It is exported from La 
Guaira, while from Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo C. tucujensis is shipped. 
The fever barks of Venezuela are poor in alkaloids and can not be used advan¬ 
tageously for their extraction, but they are mostly employed for making 
dentifrice. A considerable quantity goes to New York. 

Copaiba ( Copaifera officinalis). Exported principally from Ciudad Bolivar and Mara¬ 
caibo*, the latter being considered of superior quality. 

Caricarito (from a burseraceous tree, probably a species of Hedwigia). Used for 
making unguents. Coro. 

Tacamahaca (Protium heptaphyllum). 

Carana (Protium carana). Known in medicine as a species of elemi, and used for 
making unguents. 

Aloes (Aloe barbadensis). Coro. Used very much in medicine. The plant grows 
very abundantly in the States of Falcon and Barquisimeto, being known under 
the name of Zdbila. 

FIBER PLANTS. 

Venezuela produces a great variety of fiber plants, such as the cocu- 
iza, cucui, gamelote, jipijapa, flax, majagua, ramie, sibeira, and many 
others, as follows: 

FIBERS. 

Pita-hemp, called cocuiza in Venezuela, is prepared from the long and thick leaves of 
several species of Fourcrcea (F. gigantea , F. cubensis, F. vivipara). These plants 
grow in dry and waste places, without any care and help of man. The fibers 
are sometimes over 4 feet in length; they are thickest in the middle (0.15 to 0.40 
millimeters). Under ordinary circumstances they contain about 12 per cent of 
water, and 36 per cent when fully saturated. Their ash amounts to 2 per cent 
of the weight burnt; it is white, and contains many crystals of oxalate of lime. 
The fiber is light, so that cordage made of it swims on the water. Unfortu¬ 
nately its flexibility is not very great, and still less so is the resistance against 
torsion. Much cocuiza i* prepared in the Barquisimeto, Coro, and the Andes, 
where it is called fique. It is used especially for making bagging, hammocks, 
halters, cordage, etc. 

Majagua, the fibrous inner bark of Paritium tiliaceum , of which a kind of ordinary 
cordage is made. 


FIBER PLANTS. 


173 


Moriche-fiber, from the leaves of a palm, Mauritia Jiexuosa, which grows abundantly 
in the Delta of the Orinoco and similar places. They are used for making reins 
and cordage. 

Palm leaves (mostly from several species of Carlaclovica), used for plaiting hats. 
Cotton, from Barcelona. Cotton is little cultivated, and only for domestic use. 

Yellow cotton, island of Margarita. 

Wool of the spiny silk-cotton tree ( Eriodendron anfractuosum) . Used like the other 
kinds of silk cotton. 

Fruits and silk of the silk-cotton tree ( Ochroma lagopus). The silk is only for the 
stuffing of pillows, as it does not allow of being spun. 

Sibucara wool ( Bombax ). Used like the other kinds of vegetable wool. 

Lana del Tambor, the silky wool which envelops the seeds of Bombax cumanensis. It 
can not be spun, but is used for making pillows. 

Lana de Enea. The exceedingly soft wool which wholly envelops the flowers of a 
species of flag tail ( Typha angustifolia , var. dominicensis) ; it is used for the stuff¬ 
ing of pillows. The rhizoma of the plant contains a considerable quantity of 
starch. 

Frailejon (different species of Espeletia, growing on the paramos in the highest parts 
of the Cordillera of Merida, 3,500 to 4,500 meters over sea level). The leaves 
of these curious plants are densely covered by very soft wool, which, being a 
bad conductor of heat, protects the plant against the excessive cold to which it 
is exposed. 

Silk-cotton. The beautiful glossy seed-hairs of Calotropis gigantea, an East Indian ascle- 
piad, and perfectly naturalized in Venezuela. It has been tried to use them 
for a kind of woven fabric; they are, however, too brittle and do not give a 
good thread. 

Silk-wool of Orozuz ( Ibatia muricaia). An asclepiadaceous climber, which yields a 
milky juice, said to be a good pectoral. The seed hairs are too brittle and can 
not be spun. 

Vegetable horsehair ( Tillandsia usneoides ). A well-known stuffing material, common 
to all tropical and subtropical climates. 

Estropajo. The inner part of the fruit of Luffa dlindrica. When bleached, they are 
known as vegetable sponge, and used for washing. 

Chiquichique. This is the piassava fiber, obtained from a palm tree ( Attalea funifera). 
Brooms are made of it, and also cables and other cordage, which are much 
used on board the vessels navigating the Orinoco. 

Besides the cork tree, the araguaney, the suspa, the llagiiero, the 
puy, the masagiiaro, the yopo,which are employed exclusively in house¬ 
building, there are: the mora, the zasafras, the laurel, the parature, 
the caro, and the cartan, which, on account of their peculiar conditions, 
are used in naval constructions. 

VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. 

With the sap from the different kinds of palm trees to be found 
principally in the State of Bermudez and in the Guiana section of 
Venezuela the native Indians manufacture wine, vinegar, oil, soap, 
starch, etc., and use their leaves either in the original state or specially 
prepared to make hats, cloths, hammocks, baskets, mats, etc.: 

STARCH. 

Maize-starch (Zea Mays). Prepared from the variety called Maiz cariaco, which 
yields about 60 per cent of starch. 


174 


VENEZUELA. 


Apio-starch ( Arracacha esculenta). The plant which goes in Venezuela by the name 
of Apio, belongs to the family of umbelliferse, and looks very much like celery, 
which accounts for the name (Apio in Spanish means celery). It is a native of 
the South American Andes, and grows only in heights from 1,500 meters upward. 
It is a biennial plant; in the first year the large fleshy root only develops a num¬ 
ber of radical leaves, while in the second year a tall stem grows up, bearing the 
flowers. As in this growth, however, the mealy substance of the root is used 
up, the latter is dug out before the stem appears. The fleshy root is of a yellow 
color, and, when boiled, very palatable. It contains from 20 to 22 per cent of 
starch, besides a sweetish juice, which yields good alcohol. 

Chiga-starch ( Campsiandra comosa). Upper Apure, Aranca, Meta, Orinoco. The 
starch is extracted from the seeds and used as breadstuff. 

Lairdn-starch. The tuberculous roots of Calathea allouya, looking very much like 
small potatoes, are eaten after having been boiled, and contain about 23 per cent 
of a most beautiful starch. 

Mandioca-starch (Manihot utUissima, called Yuca in Venezuela). There are two varie¬ 
ties: Yuca dulce and Yuca amarga. The latter contains a very poisonous juice, 
which must be got rid of by pressure after the root is ground. It contains 
about 15 per cent of starch, which is sold at $6 to $7 the hundredweight. 

Mandioca-starch. Of the State of Bermudez. 

Mapuei-starch (Dioscorea trifida). There are two varieties: Mapuei bianco and Mapuei 
morado, according to the interior of the roots, which is white in the former, and 
of a murrey color in the latter. The boiled roots are much used instead of 
potatoes, and are, indeed, of a very good taste. 

Ocumo-starch ( Colocasia esculenta). The tubercles of the rhizom contain about 30 
per cent of starch, and when boiled taste like some inferior kinds of potatoes. 

Potato-starch. Potatoes grow well in most parts of Venezuela, farmers using gen¬ 
erally German or French seed. They suffer, however, occasionally from blight, 
and the amount grown is by far not sufficient for consumption, so that every 
year a considerable quantity of potatoes is imported, especially from Germany 
and France. 

Plantain-flour (Musa paradisiaca ). 

Yams-starch (Dioscorea alata) . The roots contain 18 per cent of starch, together 
with a large amount of mucilage. 

Sweet-potato starch (Batata, edulis). The sweet potato is extensively cultivated; it 
contains from from 15 to 20 per cent of starch, and 5 to 7 per cent of glucose. 

Yuruma-starch (from Mauritia flexuosa). Of the Territory Delta del Orinoco. 

VEGETABLE OILS. 

Oil of pinon ( Yatropha Curcas), exhib. Charles Boissellier, Carupano. 

Cocoanut oil (Cocos nucifera). A well known oil obtained by pressure from the 
endosperm of the seed. Large quantities of it are made in Cumand for soap 
manufactures. 

Cocoanut oil. Cumand. 

Cocoanuts in the husk, and without it. 

Ajonjolx (Gingilie). The seeds of Sesamum indicum; they yield an oil similar to olive 
oil, and are also roasted and pounded in cold water for making a beverage which 
has the property of increasing the secretion of milk in nursing women. The 
plant is cultivated in some parts of Venezuela. 

Oil of the same. 

Castor-oil seeds (Ricinus communis). From these seeds the well known castor oil is 
extracted by pressure. 

Secua (Feuillsea scandens, a curcurbitaceous climber). The seeds contain a considera¬ 
ble quantity of colorless oil, said to be very excellent for protecting polished 
steel and iron implements from rusting. 


ANIMAL PRODUCTS. 


175 


Mani (earth peas, or ground nuts); the pods of Arachis hypogaea, which have the 
curious peculiarity to ripen under ground. The seeds are eaten after being 
slightly roasted; they also yield a sweet oil, largely used in Europe for adulter¬ 
ating olive oil. 

Crab oil ( Carapa guianensis ). The seeds of this meliaceous tree, which is very abun¬ 
dant in Guayara, contain about 70 per cent of an excellent oil for soap manu¬ 
facture. 

Seje oil, from the seeds of a palm ( Oenocarpus bataua) , which grows in the Delta of 
the Orinoco and in the Territory Amazonas. It is said to be an infallible rem¬ 
edy against consumption. 

Seje oil. Cumarni. 

Sassafras oil. ( Acroclidium chrysophyllum) from Barquisimeto. 

Cuajo ( Myristica punctata). The bark is somewhat aromatic and used as an anti¬ 
rheumatic; the fruits contain a fat, of which candles are made. 

ANIMAL PRODUCTS, SKINS, ETC. 

Skin of jaguar (Fells onza). 

Skin of cunuguaro (Felis macrura). 

Skin of fox (Canis azarse). 

Skin of weasel (Galictis macrura). 

Skin of squirrel ( Sciurus sestuans). 

Skin of aguti (Dasyprocta aguti). 

Skin of opossum (Didelphys cancrivora). 

Skin of sloth (Bradypus torquatus). 

Skin of boa constrictor, 20 feet 3 inches long. 

Cochineal (Coccus cacti). The dried bodies of the females of a homopterous insect, 
which lives on several species of prickly pear, principally Opuntia coccinellifer 
and 0. tuna. It is used for making carmine. 

Ground pearls, known in the country by the name of “huevos de bachaco,” i. e., 
ants’ eggs. They are, however, the larval capsules of Forphyrophora margarodes , 
an insect belonging to the coccidje, order of hoinoptene. The animal lives in 
sandy and marly soil, feeding on the roots of certain grasses. 

ANIMAL OILS. 

Turtle oil from the eggs of Peltocephalus tracaxa and Podocnemis expansa; both are 
abundant in the Orinoco River, and known in the county under the names of 
terecai and arrau. 

WAX. 

Beeswax. The yellow and white wax is the produce of Apis ligurica, introduced in 
the country since 1856, and now completely acclimatized. The black wax is 
made by a species of Melipona , which is indigenous. Prices, white wax, 80 cents; 
yellow wax, 70 cents; black wax, $1 a pound. Foreign white wax pays 25 cents 
duty per kilogram, and yellow wax about 15 cents. 

Black wax from the Territory “ Delta del Orinoco.” 

HONEY. 

The bee kept in Venezuela belongs to the variety known as Apis 
ligurica , and was introduced in 1856 from the Canary Islands. There 
are, besides, several wild species of bees that make honey. 

FEATHERS. 

Aigrettes.—The most costly of all feather ornaments are the aigrettes, 
which are in great demand, Some of the rarest and most beautiful 


176 


VENEZUELA. 


aigrettes come from Venezuela. They are taken from a large species 
of heron which does not feed in droves, but is found either singly or 
in pairs. They live in the thick jungles and swamps along the water 
courses of the Amazon and its tributaries and of those of the Orinoco, 
in which latter region they are more plentiful than elsewhere in South 
America. The gathering of these feathers represents both great dif¬ 
ficulty and danger from reptile, beast, and insects. Therefore the 
wholesale price of crude feathers in New York is from $25 to $30 per 
ounce for short or “cross” feathers and from $7.50 to $10 per ounce 
for the long variety. The price is steadily rising, for they are never 
offered to the market in very large lots. 

AGRARIAN INSTITUTE. 

The Agrarian Institute has established an Agricultural Museum. 

AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM. 

In addition to being a permanent exposition, this museum is a 
center of practical instruction for the pupils of this first agricultural 
school, whose knowledge will result in a positive benefit to the nation, 
and foreign capital will find in the Republic an inducement for the 
development of those industries which receive from the soil their raw 
material. 

List of some of the products that will form the “ Agricultural Museum .” 

VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 

Dyestuffs: Onoto, indigo, curcuma, Campeche wood, Brazilian wood, mora, etc. 

Textiles: Cocuiza, cocuy and maya fibers, cotton and cotton manufactures (cloth, 
sacks, hammocks, sandals, etc.). 

Oleaginous seeds: Spurge seed, beneseed, flaxseed, cotton seed, cocoanuts, pea¬ 
nuts, etc. 

Farinaceous substances: Corn, wheat, oats, barley, rice, lentils, beans, etc. 

Aromatics: Sarrapia, vanilla, coffee, cacao, ginger, tobacco, and its manufactures. 

Tanning substances: Dividivi, mangrove, yagrumo, urape, etc. 

Medicinal plants: Quinina, sarsaparilla, etc. 

Wild fruits: Those used in the locality. 

Caouchoucs, resins, gums: Copaiba, aloe, etc. 

Woods, all the local varieties. 

Forage plants: Wild and cultivated. 

ANIMAL PRODUCTS. 

Birds, and other animals, embalmed. 

Insects: Useful and noxious to agriculture. 

Eggs: Alligator, fowl, and tortoise. 

Fish and fish products. 

Honey, wool, wax, hides, feathers, bones, horns, teeth, etc. 

Minerals: Rocks, fossils, marine and terrestrial shells. 

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS. 

Starch and flour. 

Baskets, wooden or earthen vessels, ancient or modern, used in the neighborhood. 


BOARDS OF AGRICULTURE, 


177 


Milk products, hard cheese. 

Liquors: Rum, cocuy, aguardientes, etc. 

Sugar, raw sugar, and raw-sugar products. 

CENTRAL BOARDS OF AGRICULTURE. 

These boards are established for the following purposes: 

To encourage agriculture and stock raising in the State; and 

1. To diffuse agricultural knowledge by means of publications that 
the Agrarian Institute will send for the formation of a circulating 
agricultural library. 

2. To form an experimental station for the improvement of the 
existing crops and the introduction of new ones. 

3. To establish an Agricultural Museum in the Office of the Board 
in the form of an exhibit of the products of the State. 

4. To found a newspaper that shall circulate as the organ of the 
Board and diffuse agricultural progress, especially that relating to 
agricultural mechanics, constructions, fertilizers, rural industries, 
crossing of races, selection of seeds, diseases of plants, forestry, and 
questions of rural economy. 

5. To encourage local stock and agricultural expositions. 

6. To distribute seeds to agriculturists for experimenting with new 
productions. 

7. To form nurseries of foreign arboreal plants for the distribution 
of slips to agriculturists at a low price. 

8. To provide a small stock of machinery and agricultural instru¬ 
ments so that agriculturists may learn to operate them and to appre¬ 
ciate the advantages of their application. 

9. To endeavor to obtain a small number of breeding animals for 
the betterment of the existing domestic animals. 

10. To name similar boards in the districts. 

11. To give its powerful and active cooperation to industrial, com¬ 
mercial, or nautical schools that may be created in the neighborhood, 
and to appoint traveling instructors in agriculture. 

To facilitate the carrying into execution of these projects the Board 
relies from the outset upon the moral and material support of the 
Agrarian Institute, which, in addition to sending of books, pamphlets, 
and newspapers of an agricultural character, will also forward seeds 
and the necessary instructions regarding their cultivation. It will also 
answer in a disinterested manner the questions that may be submitted 
to it relating to the improvements, mechanical preparation of the soil, 
etc., as well as regarding the existing industries or those that it may 
be desired to establish, for which the institute has a competent person¬ 
nel and extensive connections abroad with the manufactures of machin¬ 
ery, tools, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, etc. 


4a—04-12 



178 


VENEZUELA. 


PRINCIPAL, PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC-LAND LAW. 


Public lands are (1) the la} 7 lands, or public lands, within the terri¬ 
tory of Venezuela without lawful owner, namely, those not belonging’ 
to commons, corporations, or private persons; and (2) the lands recov¬ 
ered by the nation, according to the provisions of the present law. 

Administration.—Public lands belonging to the States are adminis¬ 
tered by the Federal Executive, who can lease, sell, and grant them 
gratuitously for the following purposes: 

(1) For the establishment of agricultural or mining colonies. 

(2) For the reservations for the reduction and civilization of Indians. 

(3) For immigration, to which effect the Federal Executive may 
grant public lands to immigrants, according to the respective law. 

(4) For encouraging railway enterprises with grants of the neces¬ 
sary land adjacent to their lines, according to the provisions of the 
respective law. 

(5) For improving the agricultural, pastoral, and mining industries, 
and protecting all other private enterprises devoted to such industries. 

Land grants.—Public-land grants are governed by the following 


rules: 

(1) Mining lands are granted subject to the provisions of the respec¬ 
tive code. 

(2) Public land granted to railway enterprises or others of public 
interest need but express the extension in the respective contract. 

(3) Public-land grants to immigrants must be in accordance with 
this law. 

The Government has power to make gratuitous grants of lands 
under the conditions established in the public-land law. 

Land granted near the shores of the sea or lakes or the banks of 
navigable rivers shall have an extension ten times greater toward the 
interior than on the shore or bank. 

Public-land grants must be at least 5 kilometers distant in all direc¬ 
tions from any salt deposit, or at least 500 meters from the seashore, 
or 200 from lake shores or banks of navigable rivers of the first or 
second rank, or 25 from those of lesser importance. 

Lease of lands.—Public lands are leased for terms of five years, and 
the applicant must agree: 

1. To cultivate, within three years from the date of his grant, at 
least one-third of the lands applied for, under the penalty of having 
his grant revoked for the portion which has not been cultivated. 

2. To settle on the leased land and occupy it at least one year after, 
when it is for stock raising or pasture, under the same penalty. 

Measurement of lots.—The measurements of lots shall be paid in cash 
by the lessee of public lands. The standard measure is the league, of 
5 kilometers or 2,500 hectares. 


LAND LAW. 


179 


Appraisement of lots.—The appraisement of lots is effected by experts, 
and the standard values adopted are as follows: Agricultural lands, 
from $8 to $16 per hectare; pastoral lands, from $400 to $800 per league. 

Allotment of lands.—The maximum of a concession of public lands is 
100 hectares for agricultural lands and 1 square league for stock 
raising. 

Public-Land Law of Venezuela. 

[Full text.] 

Land lav) sanctioned by the Congress of the United States of Venezuela 

in 190 J±. 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Chapter I. — Public lands. 

Art. 1 . The following are public lands: 

(1) Lands situated within the limits of the nation and which have 
no lawful owner, that is to say, lands which do not belong to commons, 
corporations, or private individuals; and 

(2) Lands which the nation may recover according to law and the 
special provisions contained in the present law. 

Art. 2. The Federal Executive shall direct the taking of the census 
of public lands, and to this effect shall issue all the rules that are to 
be followed in its formation and shall designate the commissions which 
shall take it, bearing in mind the territorial division of the Republic. 

Art. 3. The presidents and all the other civil authorities of the 
States are obliged to assist the Federal Executive with all the means 
in their power, and as it may demand, for the taking of the census of 
public lands, to comply with its directions, and to submit the informa¬ 
tion it may require. 

Art. 4. Within six months after the promulgation of the present 
law the civil chiefs of the districts shall inform the presidents of their 
States, who, in turn, shall inform the Federal Executive in regard to 
the following points: 

(1) Whether there are public lands within the limits of the district. 

(2) In which direction and how far distant they are from the capital 
of the district. 

(3) Whether their limits are or are not known, and, in the former 
case, what they are. 

(4) Whether the}^ are agricultural or pastoral lands, or suitable for 
these purposes, or only applicable to mining enterprises. 

§ 1. Being agricultural lands, whether they are level or mountain¬ 
ous, irrigable or not, and which plants are produced, determining the 
different species of timber and products existing or which may be 
cultivated. 


180 


VENEZUELA. 


§ 2. Being pastoral lands, what are its pastures and what class of 
live stock may be raised on them. 

(5) Whether the\ r are under cultivation or employed in some public 
or private use. 

§ 1. Being under cultivation, what kind of cultivation, and who are 
the owners. 

(6) Whether the houses form villages or are built widely apart. 

(7) Whether the lands comprise rivers, channels, or lagoons, the 
quantity of water the}^ contain, and whether they are permanent and 
navigable by boats, or steamships; and 

(8) Their temperature, fertility, geological conditions, hygienic and 
other special circumstances of the locality, and anything that may con¬ 
tribute to the knowledge of the application that may be given to them. 

§ 1. In the census that shall be taken all these circumstances must 
be well determined by the persons in charge of taking it. 

§ 2. The Federal Executive will enforce the execution of this 
provision. 

Art. 5. The civil chiefs of the districts, for the greater accuracy of 
their information, shall demand all the data they may deem convenient 
from the registrars, municipal councils, boards of commons, and other 
authorities, and of the most intelligent people who live in the place. 
These data shall be given in writing and shall be added to the infor¬ 
mation which shall be sent to the presidents of the States. 

Art. 6 . When the civil chiefs of the districts should be in doubt 
regarding the nature of the land, that is to say, whether it is public 
or private land, the} T shall so express it in the respective record, stating 
likewise the justified motives for such doubt. 

Art. 7. The presidents of the States shall remit to the fomento 
department a legalized copy of the information or records which the 
chiefs of the districts may have sent to them within thirty days after 
their receipt, and shall retain the originals on file; and the} r shall add 
to said cop} 7 the notes they may consider useful to elucidate doubtful 
points and make clear the opinion of the National Government. 

Art. 8. After the information has been received in the fomento 
department, the National Government shall declare public those lands 
which prove to be such without the least doubt, according to this law; 
and for the investigation of those in regard to which there may be any 
doubt, it shall direct that through the respective commissioners the 
proper proceedings may be instituted before the competent tribunals. 

Art. 9. The Federal Executive shall enact all the measures which 
it may consider necessary for ascertaining which are the lands called 
“realengas” (unappropriated), existing in the Republic which are not 
legally possessed, and shall proceed to recover them according to 
law. To this effect it is empowered to designate the persons who 
shall take the necessary steps under instructions from the minister of 


LAND LAW. 


181 


f omen to. This functionary shall, before directing the corresponding 
proceedings of recovery, endeavor to obtain a conciliation under the 
most equitable conditions. 

Art. 10 . The persons who denounce public lands that have been 
recovered for the nation by the Federal Executive, bv virtue of judg¬ 
ment or conciliation, are entitled to have a title deed issued in their 
favor for one-fifth part of the land acquired. 

Art. 11. Lands declared public by virtue of recovery in favor of 
the Federal Executive are incorporated to the dominion and ownership 
of the State in the jurisdiction of which they are located, and subject 
to the provisions of the present law. 

Chapter II. — Administration and application of public lands. 

Art. 12. The administration of public lands, the dominion and 
ownership of which belong to the States according to the constitu¬ 
tional provisions in force, corresponds to the Federal Executive; and 
the limits established or that may be established by the law of territo¬ 
rial division of the Republic shall determine which belong to each 
State. 

Art. 13. Public lands may be leased, sold, or granted gratuitously, 
according to the provisions of this law. 

Art. 11. The Federal Executive, as administrator of public lands, 
has power to apportion them within the bounds of reason and equity. 

(1) For the establishment of agricultural or mining colonies as the 
development of the natural wealth of the territory may demand; 

(2) For the protection that is to be granted for the reduction and 
civilization of aborigines; 

(3) For immigration, to which effect the Federal Executive may 
grant public lands to immigrants in accordance with the respective law; 

(1) For the promotion and construction of railwa} T s, granting the 
lands that may be necessary for their establishment and operation. 
These concessions shall not exceed 50 meters in width on either side 
of the line, and 1,000 meters in length for every 2,000 meters of rail¬ 
way line. An equal strip of land belonging to the Government hav¬ 
ing, therefore, to intervene alternately between one and the other 
concession; 

(5) For the improvement of agricultural, pastoral, and mining indus¬ 
tries, and for the protection of all private enterprises of acknowledged 
utility that may be established for the working of said industries, and 
with this end in view the Federal Executive may issue deeds of lease, 
sale, or gratuitous allotment in favor of the person or persons who 
may so apply, provided they submit to the provisions of this law. 

Art. 15. In the allotment of public lands, which the Federal Execu¬ 
tive may make in conformity with the foregoing article, the following 
rules shall be observed: 


182 


VENEZUELA. 


(1) Lands for the exploitation of mines shall be allotted according 
to the mining code; 

(2) In concessions of public lands made to railway enterprises or 
others of national interest it will suffice that the respective contract 
shall state the extension of said lands; and 

(3) The advantage granted to aborigines and immigrants shall be 
regulated by the Federal Executive in accordance with rules 2 and 3 of 
article 11 of the present law. 

Sole §. In allotting or leasing land in favor of private persons 
according to rule 5 of article 11, all the provisions established by this 
law shall be observed. 

Chapter III .—Leasing of public lands. 

Art. 16. To obtain the lease of public lands the applicant shall 
apply to the president of the State in which they are located, pro¬ 
posing to lease them, and specifying clearly and precisely the place in 
which they are situated; the limits they comprise; the object to which 
they are to be applied, that is to say, whether for agricultural or stock 
raising; whether or not there are persons occupying them, and accept¬ 
ing the following essential conditions and unalterable agreements: 

(1) To cultivate within the following three years, to be reckoned 
from the date of leasing, the third part at least of the lands for which 
he has made an application, subject to the penalty of having his conces¬ 
sion revoked in regard to the part of the lands that are not cultivated 
in said proportion; 

(2) To establish on the land leased and to occupy it one year after¬ 
wards, at the latest, from the date of the allotment, if the land be for 
stock raising or pasture, under the penalty of having his concession 
revoked; and 

(3) To pay in cash the expense of measurement and that incurred 
in the formation of the record. 

Art. 17. The secretaries of the presidents of the States shall put a 
note at the foot of the application signed by them and by the inter¬ 
ested party, stating the day and hour on which the application was 
filed, and the president of the State within the third day shall decree 
the formation of the record; the measurement of the land, for the 
lease of which application has been made, by the surveyor chosen 
for that purpose; the publication, for three times, of the application 
filed, which publication shall be made in a newspaper of the State, 
and in case there is none, in one of a neighboring State; the posting 
of three bulletins in the most public places of the parish in the juris¬ 
diction of which the lands applied for are located, and the announce¬ 
ment to the municipal council of the district where the lands are 
located, so that he may inform whether or not they belong to com- 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



PALACE OF MIRAFLORES (.PRESIDENT’S HOUSEJ 














LAND LAW. 


183 ' 


mons of any village, and the notification to the persons occupying 
them, if there be any. 

Art. 18. The surveyor appointed shall make oath to fulfill, in due 
form, his duties, and shall proceed to make the topographical plan 
which he shall sign, stating in it not only the situation, extension, 
and boundaries of the land measured, but also its conformation, tem¬ 
perature, altitude, class, whether or not it can be irrigated, its geolog¬ 
ical and sanitary conditions, and all the other circumstances that may 
be useful to judge exactly regarding its value and application. 

Sole §. In measuring the land the Venezuelan league, according to 
the metric system, shall be used, adopting as equivalent of a league 
the extension of 5 square kilometers or 2,500 hectares. 

Art. 19. The bulletins referred to in article 17 shall be sent to the 
civil chief officer of the respective parish for posting, one in his office 
and the two others in the most public places of the town, and he must 
return them twenty days later, stating the day on which they were 
posted, and that they remained for the aforesaid length of time in his 
office, in view of the public. 

Art. 20. To the record must be added the report that must be sub¬ 
mitted b} r the municipal council within the ten following days, a copy 
of the newspaper in which the application for lease has been published 
and the bulletin that must be returned by the civil chief officer of the 
parish as aforesaid. 

Art. 21. If any opposition should occur in regard to the dominion 
and ownership of the lands that are bespoken for lease, the opponent 
must submit to the president of the State the title deed on which he 
bases his right, and if said functionary should find that the title lacks 
efficiency as a title of dominion, he shall so declare it and direct that 
the record shall follow the legal corresponding proceedings. In the 
contrary case the proceedings shall cease until the contention shall be 
decided before the tribunals of justice by executory sentence, of which 
the party interested shall submit a legalized copy in order that it may 
become efficient. 

Sole §. When the opposition refers only to boundaries the delimi¬ 
tations shall be made according to the Code of Civil Procedure and the 
final resolution in regard to them shall have legal effect, for which 
purpose the party interested shall submit a copy of the sentence estab¬ 
lishing said limits. 

Art. 22. The classification of the land, that is to say, if it is for 
agriculture or stock raising, shall be effected by two experts appointed, 
one by the president of the State and the other by the party inter¬ 
ested, and in case of disagreement the same experts shall appoint the 
third. Experts are under oath. 

Art. 23. The maximum portion of a denouncement of public lands 
shall be 100 hectares of land for agriculture and a square league of 


‘ 184 


VENEZUELA. 


land for stock raising, but the Federal Executive, in view of the object 
to which the denounced lands are to be applied and of any other cir¬ 
cumstances which may be favorable in his opinion to the application, 
may grant a larger extension than that established by this article. 

Art. 24. The president of the State, in view of the respective 
record, shall inform regarding the convenience of leasing’ the land and 
shall send the original record to the minister of f omen to who, in case 
there are not any objections, shall issue a resolution authorizing the 
president of the State to enter into a lease contract. 

§ (1) The contract shall be made and signed in duplicate. 

§ (2) If the applicant does not appear to conclude the contract within 
the thirty days following the notification that must be made by the 
president of the State regarding the authority received to that effect, 
it shall be null and void. 

§ (3) The president of the State shall send to the minister of fornento 
the records relative to the commission entrusted to him, of which a 
copy of the contract shall form a part. 

Art. 25. The amount of the lease shall be paid yearly in advance 
from the first of January of each year, although the lease bears 
another date, in the following manner: 4 bolivars for every hectare 
of agricultural land and 120 bolivars for every 25 square kilometers 
of stock-raising land. This payment shall be made in conformity with 
the respective ordinance. 

Sole §. The lease shall be made for five years, at the expiration of 
which the lessee may renew the contract of lease or purchase the land. 
If, during the last quarter of the lease, he has not declared his intention 
to end the contract it shall be presumed that it shall continue for an 
equal term. 

Art. 26. To the lease of public land are applicable the provisions 
contained in section 2, paragraph 3, of the Civil Code which are not 
opposed to the special provisions of this law. 

Art. 27. The following shall have preference to obtain lease of 
public lands: 

(1) Any person who, on the publication of this law, with or without 
legal title, has on them an agricultural or stock-raising establishment, 
or shall have incurred the expense of having them measured because 
of having denounced them previously as public lands, provided all 
the provisions of this law are complied with, and, 

(2) The applicant who, not being a possessor, shall have denounced 
them and applied for them first. 

Chapter IV.— Sale of Public Lands. 

Art. 28. Besides the special and precise cases determined by the 
present law, the ownership of public lands can only be acquired by 
purchase from the Federal Executive, and it shall issue to the pur- 


LAUD LAW. 185 

chasers the respective deeds of allotment through the f omen to depart¬ 
ment in conformity with the formalities established in this law. 

Sole §. The applicant shall prove first that he is lessee of the 
lands he proposes to purchase and that he has complied with all the 
conditions established in Chapter III of this law. 

Art. 29. To acquire the ownership of public lands the applicant 
shall apply to the fomento department, pro posing to buy them, an¬ 
nexing to his application the proof demanded by the foregoing article 
and accepting expressly the following conditions: 

(1) That the nation is not responsible for indemnification (sanea- 
miento) in case of eviction, nor obliged to put the buyer in possession 
according to determined boundaries, and 

(2) That he undertakes to pay to the national treasury, according to 
the order of the department of fomento, the price of the sale. 

Art. 30. The minister of fomento, when he receives the application, 
shall direct that it be added to the respective record of lease and shall 
allow the appraisement of the lands proposed to be bought by experts 
commissioned to that effect by the presidents of the respective States. 

Art. 31. Experts shall be appointed in conformity with the pro¬ 
visions of Chapter III and form the appraisement which they have to 
make. They shall bear in mind whether the lands are for agricultural 
or stock-raising purposes; whether the}^ are or are not irrigable; their 
situation, and all the other circumstances which maydetermine their 
real material price. 

Art. 32. The hectare of agricultural land shall be valued from 10 to 
80 bolivars, a and the square league of stock-raising lands from 2 to 1 
thousand bolivars / 1 

Art. 33. When the appraisement has been effected, the president of 
the State shall return the record to the minister of fomento, and, if no 
objections be raised, he shall decree the issue of the title deed after 
the respective payment has been effected according to the provisions 
of the above-mentioned article 29. 

Art. 31. When the price of sale has been paid in the national treas¬ 
ury, according to the order issued to that effect by the minister of 
fomento, the latter shall issue the title deed in the following form: 

“ The formalities prescribed in the law in force on public lands hav¬ 
ing been observed, the National Government has decreed on (such a 

date), the allotment in favor of Mr. N- N-, of (so many 

hectares), in case they are to be devoted to agriculture or mining enter¬ 
prise, or (so many square leagues) of stock-raising land, situated in 
(such a district) of (such a State), within the following boundaries 
(here the boundaries). The allotment has been made for the price of 
(in bolivars) cash which the purchaser has paid to the national treas- 
ury, and the National Government having directed that the title deed 


«Five bolivars=to the United States dollar. 







186 


VENEZUELA. 


of the referred lands be issued to him, the undersigned minister of 
fomento declares, in the name of the United States of Venezuela that, 
by virtue of the sale effected, the dominion and ownership of said 
lands are hereby transferred in favor of the purchaser and his heirs or 
assigns, with the respective declarations expressed in art. 29 of this 
law, which, in its letter and contents authorizes the present allotment, 
and the terms of which aje to be considered as expressly included in 
this contract and as decisive clauses in this particular—Caracas, etc.” 

Sole §. The person interested shall register the title deed in the 
respective registry office in order that it may have all the legal effects. 


Chapter V. —Gratuitous allotment of public lands. 

Art. 35. The occupant of public lands who may have cultivated on 
them at least 2 hectares and built thereon a dwelling house has the right 
to the gratuitous concession of dominion and ownership of 5 hectares, 
and that the corresponding title deed be issued to him. 

Art. 36. To obtain the benefit of the foregoing article the occupant 
shall apply to the president of the state of the jurisdiction in which 
the lands are situated and prove the circumstances referred to in the 
foregoing article. Said functionary shall substantiate the record 
according to the provisions of Chapter III of this law. 

Sole §. The proof must be based in public document or on the testi¬ 
mony of at least three witnesses who may attest his statement, who 
must make their declaration before the judge of the first instance in 
civil matters of the respective jurisdiction. 

Art. 37. No continuous concession of lands shall be made. Between 
one and the other an extension of at least twenty hectares must inter¬ 
vene. » 

Art. 38. The surveyor who shall measure the land in cases of gratui¬ 
tous allotment shall be entitled to onl} r 8 bolivars per hectare for travel¬ 
ing and living expenses. 

Art. 39. The record having been completed in conformity with 
Chapter III of this law the president of the state shall remit it to the 
minister of fomento who, if he should find it in proper form, shall 
commission said functionary to issue a title deed of gratuitous allotment. 

Art. 40. To the effects of registration of the title the allotment is 
taxed at 400 bolivars. a 

Art. 41. Lands, the ownership of which is acquired according to 
the provisions of this chapter, are free from all seizure, and there¬ 
fore from embargo and public sale while they remain in possession of 
the person who acquires them. This condition shall be expressly 
established in the title deed of allotment. 


"Five bolivars = to the United States dollar. 






LAND LAW. 


187 


Chapter VI .—General provisions. 

Art. 12. In sales or allotments of public lands situated on the coast 
of the sea or lakes, and on the banks of rivers, navigable by boats, 
or steamships, each portion shall contain an extension at least ten 
times larger toward the interior or back than toward the coast or bank. 

Art. 13. No concession shall be granted unless they are at least 5 
kilometers distant from each point of the compass from the banks of 
the salt deposits, nor less than 500 meters from the seacoast, nor less 
than 200 meters from the banks of lakes or navigable rivers of the 
first and second order, nor less than 25 kilometers from navigable 
rivers of inferior order. 

Art. 11. The ownership of public lands legally acquired up to the 
date of the publication of the present law is firm and hereby ratified, 
and can not be the object of claim on the part of the nation or the 
states. 

Art. 15. Persons who have filed applications in the condemned 
public lands, whose applications are pending in the department of 
fomento when this law is published, have a term of six months to 
apply for the respective title deed. 

Art. 16. Persons occupying lands over which an application for 
lease has been made shall have a term of ninety days, after being noti¬ 
fied, to declare if they do or do not make use of the preference referred 
to in Art. 27 of this law. After the expiration of this term, if they 
should not have made any declaration nor filed their application for 
lease, the record shall follow the legal course. 

Art. 17. When the amendment of the lease contract of public lands 
has been declared the former title deed is null and void. 

Art. 18. The title deeds of lease shall be issued on sealed paper 
corresponding to the amount of the rent; the sale deeds on paper of the 
second class, obliterating 20 bolivars in stamps, arid those of gratuitous 
allotment on paper of the last class, obliterating stamps as in the case 
of a sale. 

Art. 19. All lease or sale of public lands in which the provisions of 
this law and of those that the Federal Executive may establish in the 
ordinance decree have not been complied with, may be declared lapsed, 
and the improvements and sums paid revert to the state. 

Art. 50. All acts in which public lands are reclaimed shall be pub¬ 
lished in the Official Gazette, and shall be reported to the principal 
bureaus of registration of the jurisdiction in which state lands are 
situated, in order that they may make the corresponding record in the 
respective protocols. 

Art. 51. The power vested by this law in the presidents of the 
states corresponds in the Federal District and Federal Territory to 
their respective governors. 


188 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 52. The Federal Executive is authorized to issue the ordinance 
decree governing the present law. 

Art. 53. The executive decree on the subject of July 20, 1900, is 
hereby repealed. 

Given in the hall of the legislative palace of Caracas on April 16, 
1904—93d year of Independence and 46 of the Federation. 

The President of the Senate, (L. S.) Santiago Briceno. The Presi¬ 
dent of the Chamber of Deputies, (L. S.) Jose Ignacio Lares. The 
Secretary of the Senate, R. Castillo Chapellm. The Secretary of the 
Chamber of Deputies, Vicente Pementel. Federal Palace, Caracas, 
April 18, 1904—93d } T earof Independence and 46th of the Federation. 
Be it executed. C1PRLANO CASTRO. Countersigned: The Minis¬ 
ter of Fomento, (L. S.) R. Garbiras Guzman. 


INDEX 


TO CHAPTER V. 


Agriculture. 

Agricultural zone. 

Fertility of soil. 

Prospect of growth. 

Agricultural products. 

Fruit. 

Staple products... 

Coffee. 

First cultivation of. 

Number of trees. 

Production.. 

\ r ield per tree. 

Cost of production. 

Markets for Venezuelan coffee 

Grades of coffee. 

Blue and green coffees. 

Thrashed coffee. 

Unwashed coffee. 

Maracaibo coffee. 

Preparation. 

Dry and wet processes. 

Means of transportation. 

Cost of freight. 

Intermediaries. 

Exchange rate at par. 

Direct exports. 

Price of coffee. 

Roasting process. 

Management of plantations.... 

Cost of labor. 

Outlook of future development 

Cacao. 

Cacao zone. 

Height of trees. 

Profitable cultivation. 

Plantations. 

Production. 

Gathering of crop. 

Qualities. 

Markets for cacao. 

Sugar cane. 

Species of sugar cane. 


Page. 

147 

147 

147 

147 

147 

148 
148 
148 
148 
148 
148 

148 

149 
149 
149 
149 
149 
149 

149 

150 
150 
150 

150 

151 
151 

151 

152 
152 
152 
152 
152 

152 

153 
153 
153 
153 

153 

154 
154 
154 
154 
154 


189 













































Staple products—Continued. 

Sugar cane—Continued. rage. 

Plantations. 154 

Machinery. 154 

Products. 154 

Alcohol. 155 

Sugar. 155 

Brown sugar. 155 

Plantation work. 155 

Cotton. 156 

Cultivation. 156 

Production. 156 

Tobacco. 156 

Tobacco zone. 156 

Cultivation. 156 

Preparation. 156 

PrQduction. 156 

Maize or Indian corn. 156 

Cultivation. 157 

Preparation. 157 

Production. 157 

Beans. 157 

Cultivation. 157 

Consumption. 157 

Production. 157 

India rubber. 157 

Technical name. 157 

Common name. 157 

Discovery of rubber. 157 

Varieties of hevea. 158 

Venezuelan varieties. 158 

Zone of production. 158 

Growth of trees. 158 

Cultivation. 159 

Extraction of the rubber. 159 

Smoking of the juice. 159 

Coagulation of the juice. 159 

Gathering of rubber. 159 

Production per tree. 160 

Rubber crops of 1901-1902 . 160 

Castilloa rubber.* _ _ 160 

Wheat. 160 

Cultivation. 160 

Production. 160 

Tonka beans. 160 

Tonka bean zone. 161 

Production. 161 

Vanilla. 161 

Production. 161 

Zone of cultivation. 161 

Copaiva oil. 161 

Indigo. 161 

Cocoanuts. 162 





















































INDEX TO CHAPTER V. 191 

Page. 

Forest products.. .. 162 

Forest zone.. 162 

Extension of zone. 162 

Division of zone. 162 

Forestry exhibits in 1883. 162 

Forestry exhibits in 1893. 162 

Ornamental woods. 163 

Dyeing and tanning woods and barks. l . 169 

. Gums and resins. 170 

Medicinal plants and their chemical products. 171 

Fiber plants. 172 

Fibers. 172 

Vegetable products. 173 

Starch. 173 

Vegetable oils. 174 

Animal products. 175 

Skins, etc. 175 

Animal oils.* 175 

Wax. 175 

Honey. 175 

Feathers. 175 

Aigrettes. 175 

Agrarian Institute. 176 

Agricultural Museum. 176 

Central boards of agriculture. 177 

Principal provisions of the public-land law. 178 

Public lands. 178 

Administration. 178 

Grants. 178 

Lease of lands. 178 

Measurement of lots. 178 

Appraisement of lots. 179 

Allotment of lands. 179 

Full text of the public-land law. 179-188 

























































































































* 



























































CHAPTER VI. 


STOCK RAISING. 

Favorable conditions.—Venezuela is second only to the Argentine 
Republic in possessing so vast an area of rich land for pastoral pur¬ 
poses. According to Codazzi this region looks like an immense gulf 
stretching far inland, or a sea of grass, which, as far as the eye can 
reach, is bounded by the horizon, the background of which is inclosed 
by the cordilleras and the forests of Guiana. This is the region where 
live stock is born, bred, and fattened entirely on the prairie without 
need of artificial shelter or the care of man; it is the great breeding 
place which furnishes the agricultural zone with all the cattle neces¬ 
sary for its labor and the meat requisite for the subsistence of its 
inhabitants. 

Pastoral zone. —This great zone covers an area of 405,620 square kilo¬ 
meters, and extends from east to west from Barrancas, on the vertex 
of the delta of the Orinoco, to the wide plains of Sarare on the frontier 
of Colombia, and from south to north from the Vichada to the moun 
tains of El Pao, in the State of Carabobo, and there is certainly no 
other region where the animals feed the entire year exclusively on a 
great variety of green grasses growing naturally on the fertile soil 
which does not need any tilling. 

First live stock brought to Venezuela. —Live stock was introduced in 
Venezuela b}^ the Spanish conquerors. It was brought from Andalucia. 

Live stock in 1804. —Depons states that in 1804 there existed in Vene¬ 
zuela 1,200,000 head of horned cattle; 180,000 horses, and 90,000 mules. 

Live stock in 1812. —According to the rates of increase of live stock 
there must have existed 4,500,000 head of live stock in 1812, in which 
year began the war of independence. At the end of this year the 
number of live stock was considerably reduced. 

Live stock in 1823. —The following table gives the approximate 
number of horned cattle remaining in each section of the country 
according to the territorial division of the period: 


In Apure. 200, 000 

In Caracas. 15, 000 

In Barinas. 10, 000 

In Barcelona. 10,000 

In Carabobo. 5, 000 

In Cumana. 4, 000 

In Guayana. 4,000 

In Maracaibo. 3,000 

4 a— 04-13 193 











194 


VENEZUELA 


In M4rida. A uuu 

In Barquisimeto. 

In Trujillo. 1,000 

Coro and Margarita. b ^00 


Total. 256,000 


Apure was the province in which live stock began to reproduce in 
greater quantities after the war of independence. 

Live stock from 1829 to 1838.—The following table gives the number 
of live stock from 1829 to 1838: 


« 


Year. 

Name of province. 

Horned 

cattle. 

Sheep 

and 

goats. 

Mules. 

Horses. 

Asses. 

Hogs. 

1834. 

Caracas. 

222,554 
75,585 
13,187 
172,604 
200,800 
37,157 
150, 797 
4,110 

51,430 

8,291 

18,628 

18,378 

34,000 

1833.. 

Cara bo bo. 

6,670 
175,907 
10,606 
1,515 
3,694 
5,591 
200,500 
15,770 

2,299 
2,584 
3,751 

7,422 

7,828 

28,000 

1832. 

Barquisimeto. 

3, 319 

14,026 

19,000 

1832. 

Barinas. 

17,442 

7,051 

45,000 

1833 . 

Apure. 

2,363 
972 

21,590 

3,099 

20,000 

1835. 

Cumand. 

2; 938 
8,449 
1.286 

2,081 

9,000 

1834. 

Barcelona. 

1,039 

800 

3,471 

13,000 

1831. 

Coro. 

7,105 

5,000 

1835. 

Margarita. 

309 

59 

353 

364 

900 

1828. 

Mdrida. 

. 5,729 

21,171 
6,915 
63,884 
2,757 

1,000 

587 

1,660 

2,000 

1829. 

Trujillo. 

4; 388 
11,825 
54,814 

700 

239 

445 

1,000 

1828. 

Maracaibo. 

181 

470 

300 

1,200 

1837-38. 

Guayana. 

148 

778 

628 

1,000 

Total. 


953,859 

576,410 

24,187 

85,501 

66,436 

179,100 


Live stock in 1839.—The following table gives the complete stock 
statistics for 1839: 


Name of province. 

Horned 

cattle. 

Sheep and 
goats. 

Mules. 

Horses. 

Asses. 

Hogs. 

Caracas . 

.445,108 

72,770 

11,906 

16,279 

28,331 

56,000 

Carabobo . 

141,432 

14,878 

3,508 

7,204 

14, 776 

38,000 

Barquisimeto. 

29,651 

527,721 

5,168 

6,638 

28,042 

24,000 

Barinas. 

517,812 

31,818 

3,000 

8,300 

9,500 

135,507 

Apure. 

401,600 

3,030 

800 

7,200 

3,200 

40,000 

Cumand. 

65,024 

23,981 

1,702 

5,141 

3,664 

19,000 

Barcelona. 

301,594 

11,082 

1,978 

16,898 

6,942 

17,000 

Coro. 

16, 440 

802,000 

1,600 

2,572 

28,042 

9,000 

Margarita. 

541 

27, 578 

104 

618 

637 

2,000 

Merida. 

34,374 

127,026 

4,500 

3,222 

8,300 

9,080 

Trujillo. 

26,328 

41,490 

4,200 

1,434 

2,670 

5,000 

Maracaibo. 

52,006 

224,221 

724 

1,880 

5,397 

5,000 

Guayana. 

54,814 

2, 757 

148 

778 

628 

2,000 

Total. 

2,086,724 

1,910,342 

39,338 

78,164 

140,507 

362,507 


Cattle, hides, and skins exports from 1831 to 1846.—The following 
table shows the head of cattle and number of hides and skins exported 
during fifteen } T ears, viz, from 1831 to 1846: 


Year. 

Head of 
cattle. 

Hides. 

Skins. 

Year. 

Head of 
cattle. 

Hides. 

Skins. 

1831. 

1,825 
1,828 
1,667 
3,461 
4,563 
3,219 
7,912 
9,809 

Number. 
76,671 
76,671 
61, 297 
53,168 
53,083 
76,260 
111,550 
121,603 

Number. 
132,346 
132,246 
105,411 
139,444 
78,165 
217,574 
230, 747 
212,616 

1839... 

8,949 
9,968 
11,648 
12,933 
10, 979 
14,894 
17,661 
16,127 

Number. 
139,139 
163,837 
156,973 
252,640 
237, 729 
253,378 
358,991 
400,381 

Number. 
319, 463 
425,667 
'417,343 
397,350 
315,441 
374,282 
463,219 
403,175 

1832 . 

1840. 

1833 . 

1841... 

1834 . 

1842.... 

1835. 

1843. 

1836. . 

1844... 

1837. 

1845. 

1838 . 

1846. 








































































































































Handbook of Venezuela. 



THE NATIONAL PANTHEON, CARACAS. 




















STOCK RAISING 


195 


Horned cattle from 1847 to 1864.—The number of horned cattle in 
Venezuela from 1847 to 1864 was as follows: 

In 1847. 5,503,000 

In 1858. 12, 000, 000 

In 1804. 5,800,000 

Cattle, hides, and skins exports from 1847 to 1865.—The following 
table shows the head of cattle and number of skins and hides exported 
from 1847 to 1865: 


Year. 

Head of 
cattle. 

Hides. 

Skins. 

1847 . 

15,976 

Number. 
436,342 

Number. 
378,441 

1848 . 

15,832 

365,554 

284,082 

1849 . 

12,000 

339,874 

450,354 

1850 . 

13,626 

393,394 

494,068 

1851. 

15,929 

626,502 

533,533 

1852 . 

13,316 

542,899 

522,167 


Year. 

Head of 
cattle. 

Hides. 

Skins. 

1853. 

12,115 
13,187 
13,920 
6,212 
4,595 

Number. 
536,082 
632,676 
646,473 
389,893 
209,720 

Number. 
548,616 
446,042 
386,413 
486,405 
209,738 

1854. 

1855. 

1860. 

1865. 



Reproduction rate of horses, mules, and asses in 1873.—The following 
table shows the average time and rate of reproduction of horses, mules, 
and asses, taking 1,000 head as a unit of comparison: 


Kind of, 1,000 head each. 

Born in 
one year. 

Die 

young. 

Avail¬ 

able. 

Sold an¬ 
nually. 

Left to 
increase 
stock. 

Horses and mules. 

180 

9 

171 

147 

2 

Asses and mules. 

206 

10 

196 

188 

8 



Reproduction rate of horned cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs in 1873.— 

The following table shows the average time and rate of reproduction 
of horned cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs, taking 1,000 head as a unit 
of comparison: 


Kind of, 1,000 head each. 

Born in 
one year. 

Die 

young. 

Avail¬ 

able. 

2 

Cows for 
cheese. 

Cows for 
milk. 

Cows for 
raising 
calves. 

Head for 
yearly 
sale. 

Horned cattle. 

220 

21 

199 

123 

38 

38 

90 

Sheep and goats. 

1,000 

3,000 

250 

750 

200 

50 

250 

452 

Hop's _____ 

1,500 

1,500 


250 

950 





Live stock from 1873 to 1888.—The following table gives the number 
of live stock of Venezuela from 1873 to 1888 : a 


Kind. 

1873. 

1876. 

1883. 

1886. 

1887. 

1888. 

Horned cattle. 

Sheep and goats. 

Hogs. 

Horses. 

Mules. 

Asses. 

Total. 

1,389,802 
1,128,273 
362,597 
93,800 
47,200 
281,000 

2,158,267 
2,309,418 
669 112 
102, 815 
156,020 
519,820 

2,926,733 
3,490,563 
976,500 
291,603 
247,703 
658, 764 

5,275,481 
4,645,858 
1,439,185 
344,615 
277,691 
769,920 

6,687,041 
5,158,414 
1,666,489 
365,408 
288,897 
813,224 

8,476,291 
5,727,517 
1,929,693 
387,646 
300,555 
858,964 

3,302,672 

5,915,452 

8,591,866 

12,752,750 

14,979,473 

17,680,665 


« Venezuelan Yearbook, 1891, p. 135. 





































































































196 


VENEZUELA. 


Live-stock increase (percentage) in 1888.—Stock raising has consider¬ 
ably increased in Venezuela during the recent years. In 1888 the 
figures comprising the preceding fifteen years of raising were as 
follows: 


Kind. 

Head. 

Increase. 

Cattle. 

8,476,291 
5,727, 517 
1,929,693 
387,646 
300, 556 
858,963 

Per cent. 
900 

Goats and sheep. 

400 


500 

Horses. 

400 

Mules. 

600 

Asses. 

300 



Cattle, hides, and skins exports from 1882 to 1888.—The following 


table shows the head of cattle and weight of hides and skins exported 
from 1882 to 1888: 


Year. 

Cattle. 

Hides. 

Skins. 

1882. 

Head. 
5,929 
9,458 
6,975 
10,381 
12, 582 

Kilograms. 
1,395,098 
1,506,404 
2,624, 433 
2,268,466 
2,274,294 

Kilograms. 
950,581 
1,009,454 
881,462 
670,778 
773,092 

1883. 

1886. 

1887. 

1888. 



Live stock in 1894.—Table following shows the number of live stock 
in the Republic in 1894: 


Federal District and 
States. 

Horned 

cattle. 

Sheep. 

Goats. 

Horses. 

Mules. 

Asses. 

Hogs. 

Total. 

Federal District. 

Andes (Los). 

Bermudez. 

Bolivar. 

Carabobo . 

Falcon. 

Lara. 

Miranda. 

Zamora. 

Zulia. 

Total. 

2,939 
86,930 
150,642 
1,020,052 
11,363 
65, 650 
53,198 
583, 593 
362,278 
14,945 

117 
43,500 
6,522 
. 11,053 
477 
19,200 

10,079 
206 
42,860 

5,395 
35,100 
136,091 
44, 794 
1,719 
524,200 
404,132 
141,218 
20,002 
248,305 

1,783 
19,450 
28,432 
47,612 
4,328 
13,330 
13,458 
64, 772 
9,939 
5,686 

782 
31, 725 
13,552 
14, 396 
1,304 
7,370 
5, 687 
10, 638 
1,527 
2,205 

2,536 
15,082 
72,289 
54,536 
13,037 
41,800 
47,569 
93,213 
25, 571 
17,177 

1,374 
53,425 
106, 785 
509,123 
36,714 
671,550 
70,325 
85,280 
80,188 
3,450 

14,926 
285,212 
514,313 
1,701,566 
61,942 
1,343,100 
594,369 
988, 793 
499,711 
334,628 

2,351,590 

134,014 

1,560,956 

208,790 

89,186 

382,810 

1,618,214 

6,345, 560 


Cattle exports in 1897.—A Brazilian firm in the city of Para sent, 
toward the end of 1897, a representative to Caracas for the purpose of 
arranging for regular shipments of Venezuelan cattle to Brazil. This 
agent contracted for monthly shipments of 800 head to be exported 
alternately via Puerto Cabello and the Orinoco district. Hitherto this 
firm had bought its cattle in the Argentine Republic, but the advan¬ 
tages of the change are obvious when the distance from Argentine 
ports to Para, requiring thirty days for transit, is compared with that 
of Puerto Cabello, which is within six or eight days of that city. 


































































STOCK RAISING. 


197 


Cattle exports in 1898.—A contract was entered into in October, 1898, 
by five large stock raisers of the State of Miranda for the supply of 
24,000 head of cattle. These were destined for Cuba and were deliv¬ 
ered at the rate of 2,000 per month. The contract provided that the 
animals should be shipped at the rate of 2£ cents gold per pound, 
delivered at a station named Gonzalito, situated on the Caracas and 
Valencia Railroad, a short distance from Maracay; the cost of trans¬ 
portation from this station to Puerto Cabello, the port of embarkation, 
to be borne b} T the Cuban contractor. During the last week of Octo¬ 
ber, 1898, oxen to the amount of 533, weighing from 400 to 650 pounds 
each, were shipped to Havana. A similar contract was entered into 
with a breeder of Guanta, who shipped in the same week 800 head. 
It requires from six to seven days to deliver the cattle in Havana from 
Puerto Cabello. The following additional shipments: 750 head of 
cattle to Santiago and 300 head to Manzanillo were made. 

Live stock in 1899.—According to the latest returns the number of 
cattle, etc., in Venezuela in 1899 was: Horned cattle, 2,004,257; sheep, 
176,668; goats, 1,667,272; horses, 191,079; mules, 89,186; asses, 
312,810; hogs, 1,618,214. 

Cattle exports from 1898 to 1900.—The export of animals on the 
hoof from Puerto Cabello from January 1, 1898, to June 30, 1900, 
aggregated 95,470 head, having a combined weight of 33,591,222 kilo¬ 
grams and an estimated value of 11,058,086 bolivars ($2,134,210.60). 
From these figures it would appear that the average weight of the 
animals was 352 kilograms (776 pounds), worth 115.83 bolivars, or $22 
each. 

Live stock in 1901.—The Consul-General of Venezuela in London 
reported that there existed more than 2,000,000 horned cattle in Vene¬ 
zuela. The exportation via Puerto Cabello and Guanta is between 
50,000 and 60,000 head per annum, while a few are shipped via Bar¬ 
rancas and Ciudad Bolivar. The average weight of the animals 
exported is about 385 kilograms. Upon the passage between Vene¬ 
zuelan ports and Havana, Cuba, the loss in weight per head is about 
12i per cent. The average price of the animals fattened is about 7 
, bolivars per arroba (about 11 kilograms). 

In 1901 there was but one saladero or packing house, the u Cande¬ 
laria,” in the State of Apure, near the Apure and Orinoco rivers, in the 
Republic. In this establishment about 100 head of cattle were slaugh¬ 
tered a day. The method of dealing with the meat was similar to that 
employed in Uruguay. It has been found, however, that it is generally 
more remunerative to ship the animal on the hoof, owing to the import 
duty of the salt necessary for curing purposes. It is believed that 
favorable opportunities now exist for developing the packing-house 
industry in Venezuela. 


198 


VENEZUELA. 


Cattle exports in 1901.—The following statement shows the exports 
of live cattle from the Bolivar State, Venezuela, to Cuba through the 
port of Cartagena de Judias: 

Head. 

January. 1,400 

February. 1,250 

March.2, 874 

April. 3,039 

May.3,474 

Cattle exports from 1893 to 1903.—During the six years comprised 
from January 1, 1898, to December 31, 1903, the cattle exports from 
Puerto Cabello to Cuba, Curasao, and Trinidad amounted to 207,550 
head, weighing 69,311,371 kilograms, valued at $4,058,429, which 
gives an average weight of 333.96 kilograms and an average value of 
$19.47 per head of cattle.- 

In 1903 the exports of cattle amounted to 61,681 head, with a value 
of 4,433,500 bolivars, which is nearly one-third of the aggregate 
exports of the six years comprised from 1898 to 1903. 

Of the total export of cattle of 207,550 head, 7,514 were cows and 
96 horses and mares. 

Hides and skins exported in 1903.—Venezuela exported this y 7 ear 
374,786 hides, 11,205 deerskins, and 70,053 goatskins through the 
port of Puerto Cabello. Germany and England combined do not take 
as much from the country as does the United States. 

Cattle exports to Cuba, 1904.—During the months of April, May, and 
June, 1904, the exports of cattle to Cuba have amounted to 30,000 
head of live stock. 

Cattle shipments to the United States, 1904.—The United States Gov¬ 
ernment has allowed 1,000 head of Venezuelan cattle to be imported 
through the port of New York consigned to a slaughtering house. 
No breeding cattle to be among the number imported and the usual 
customs duties will have to be paid on the cattle. 


June. 1,159 

July. 4,510 

August. 7, 943 

September. 8, 200 












INDEX TO CHAPTER YI. 


Stock raising: Page. 

Favorable conditions. 193 

Pastoral zone. 193 

First live stock brought to Venezuela. 193 

Live stock in 1804. 193 

Live stock in 1812. 193 

Live stock in 1823 (table). 193 

Live stock from 1829 to 1838 (table). 194 

Live stock in 1839 (table). 194 

Cattle, hides, and skins, exports from 1831 to 1846 (table). 194 

Horned cattle from 1847 to 1864 (table). 195 

Cattle, hides, and skins, exports from 1847 to 1865 (table). 195 

Reproduction rate of horses, mules, and asses in 1873 (table). 195 

Reproduction rate of horned cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs in 1873 (table). 195 

Live stock from 1873 to 1888 (table). 195 

Live stock increase (percentage) in 1888 (table). 196 

Cattle, hides, and skins, exports from 1882 to 1888 (table). 196 

Live stock in 1894 (table). 196 

Cattle exports in 1897. 196 

Cattle exports in 1898. 197 

Live stock in 1899. 197 

Cattle exports from 1898 to 1900. 197 

Live stock in 1901. 197 

Cattle exports in 1901.,. 197 

Cattle exports from 1898 to 1903. 197 

Hides and skins exported in 1903. 198 

Cattle exports to Cuba 1904. 198 

Cattle shipments to the United States 1904. 198 


199 
















































































CHAPTER VII. 


MINING—MINERAL WEALTH, DEPOSITS, CONCESSIONS—MINING 

LAW. 

MINING. 

First mining epoch.—At the time of the Spanish conquest, or about 
the year 1550, various expeditions of gold hunters prospected the dif¬ 
ferent sections of western Venezuela in search of the precious metals. 
To them is due the discovery in 1551 of the San Pedro mine, which was 
actively worked in 1552 but abandoned after the properties had been 
destroyed by an earthquake. In 1560, Fajardo, who first attempted 
the settlement of Caracas, discovered the mines of Los Teques and 
began their development, but, owing to the hostility of the Indians, 
who killed his miners and destroyed his works, he was compelled to 
abandon them. In 1581 settlements were made on the Tu} r River which 
led to the discovery of the Apa, Carapa, and other mines in Baruta, 
Aroa, Chacao, Mariches, Pao de Zarate, Cipe, Cocorote, etc. 

MINERAL WEALTH. 

The mineral wealth of Venezuela, although not so extensive^ util¬ 
ized as it could be, is undoubtedly very great, especially in the Bolivar 
State and the Yuruari and other Territories. 

The principal mineral resources of Venezuela consist of gold, silver, 
copper, iron, tin, lead, quicksilver, asphalt, petroleum, coal, sulphur, 
asebestos, and precious stones. There is scarcely a mineral product 
known that can not be found in some part of the vast expanse of terri¬ 
tory of Venezuela. This does not imply, however, that all are found 
at present in paying quantities, but gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, 
sulphur, asphalt, etc., are and could be mined with more profit under 
improved conditions of traffic and transportation. 

MINERAL REGIONS. 

Gold region.—Gold has been found in all the States and Territories 
of Venezuela, but the deposits of greatest extent and value are those 

201 


202 


VENEZUELA. 


discovered in the Yuruari region where the famous El Callao mine 
is located. There are also outcroppings in all the mountainous lands 
between the Yaracuy River and the cities of San Felipe, Nirgua, and 
Barcelona. Near Carupano are some valuable mines worked by New 
York capitalists that have yielded 7 ounces of gold per ton, besides 
others in the same locality that bear rich deposits of silver, copper, 
and lead. 

Copper region.—Valuable mines of copper at Aroa, in the hills of San 
Felipe, 112 kilometers Avest of Puerto Cabello, have been long worked 
by an English company, and the ore, which is a red copper of excel¬ 
lent quality and preferred to the Swedish or Chilean ores, is exported 
to Europe. There are also undeveloped mines of this metal in Coro, 
Carabobo, Barquisimeto, and Merida. 

Iron region.—There are many indications of red hematite and mag¬ 
netic iron ores in the littoral Cordilleras, in the mountains around 
Coro, Barinas, Barcelona, and Cumana, and many parts of the Parima 
Mountains, but the most valuable deposit is near the Imataca River, a 
confluent of the lower Orinoco, where an inexhaustible quantity of 
magnetic Bessemer ore, assaying 80 per cent of pure metal, lies 
exposed to view and accessible to deep water. 

Lead region.—A lead mine, undeveloped, lying near Tocuyo, has 
yielded some valuable specimens. 

Asphalt region.—Asphalt exists in great abundance near the Peder- 
nales River, an estuary of the Orinoco, opening into the Gulf of Paria, 
where petroleum wells have been sunk with good results and a com¬ 
pany has been organized in Caracas to work the property. The 
machinery, etc., is on the ground and in process of erection. Inex¬ 
haustible mines of mineral pitch also exist near Maracaibo, Merida, 
and Coro. 

Petroleum region.—Petroleum wells are abundant in Cumana and . 
Trujillo. The presence of petroleum is announced in different places 
in the east and also on the coast west from Puerto Cabello, in the 
vicinity of Tocuy^o, Capadare, and Curamichate. 

Coal region.—Extensive coal deposits are found about 19 kilometers 
from Barcelona, and the area, only partially explored, discloses about 
100 outcroppings of coal strata of regular formation, varying from 10 
centimeters to 2 meters in thickness. These strata are located between 
layers of sandstone and schist in the general direction of east to west, 
with an inclination of 45° to the south. This is also the general direc- 
tion of the valleys where these deposits lie, through which run streams 
to the Neveri River. Large quantities of coal crop out above the level 
of the streams and can be mined from horizontal tunnels and loaded 
upon cars without expensive pumping and lifting machinery. The 
quality of the product is such as ns termed steamed coal and is easily 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



IMATACA IRON REGION. 

















MINERAL REGIONS. 


208 


ignited, producing much combustible gas, with a small proportion of 
argillaceous cinder and a very small quantity of sulphur. In mining 
and transportion it loses in dust about 25 per cent, most of which can 
be recovered and worked into patent fuel. Analyses of 4 lots resulted 
in an average of 0 per cent water, 41 per cent volatile matter, 48 per 
cent lixed carbon, and 5 per cent cinders. 

Sulphur region.—In Lagunillas, near Merida, is a lake, the bottom 
of which is covered with urao or sesqui carbonate of soda. Mines of 
sulphur are to be found in Cumana, Barcelona, and Coro. 

Salt region.—Salt is found in nearly all of the States of the Vene¬ 
zuelan Union. According to the report of the department of finance 
of 1877 there were then 64 salt deposits, 1,447 salt wells, and 22 salt 
brooks. The total product of salt in the Republic was estimated at 
over 105,000,000 kilograms. 

The following table gives the location and number of salt mines, 
wells, and brooks known in 1877: 


State or Territory. 

Salt 

deposits 

and 

Wells. 

Brooks. 


mines. 



Zulia. 

5 

1,420 

27 


Falcon. 

20 

. 17 

Carabobo. 

5 

Barcelona. 

7 


3 

Cumanft.. 

4 



Nueva Esparta. 

10 



Guay ana. 

1 



Apure. 

1 



Bolivar. 



2 

Goagiara Territory. 

6 



Col6n. 

5 







Total. 

64 

1,447 

22 



Jet and other mineral regions.—Mines of jet and porcelain earth are 
found near Cumana and Caracas. Granite is abundant in the Si 11a 
Mountain, near Caracas, and slate, marble, granite, gypsum, and lime 
exist in great quantities in the Coast Range and Parima mountains. 
Tin ores are also found near Barquisimeto. 

Thermal and mineral waters region.—These are found in many parts 
of the country. The hot springs of Las Trincheras, on the railway 
between Puerto Cabello and Valencia, are especially noted, their 
waters maintaining a temperature of 206° F. With the exception of 
the Urijino Springs in Japan, having a temperature of 212° F., these 
are reputed to be the hottest springs in the world. Some remarkable 
springs are those of Coro, in La Quiva, near the road to Pedregal, 
where some fort}^ streams have formed for themselves white basins 
like soup plates. These waters are of distinct odors and colors, and 
their temperatures range from 41° to 151° F. 



































204 


VENEZUELA. 


MINERAL DEPOSITS. 

According to the Venezuelan Yearbook of 1896, published by the 
Government of Venezuela, there are in the territory of the Republic 
226 deposits of the following minerals: 

Federal District.—Seven, to wit: Amethist, antimony, limestone, 
garnet (2), silver, and lead. 

Los Andes (the old State).—Forty-six, as follows: Red ocher, mineral 
tar (5), alum (2), asphalt, sulphur (3), coal (9), copper, guano (2), gay- 
lussite, garnet (2), iron (4), magnesia, marble (2), gold, petroleum (2), 
slate (2), silver (2), lead, saltpeter, talc, trona, and gypsum. 

Bermudez (the old State).—Fifteen, as follows: Sulphur (4), coal (3), 
carbonate of lime, rock crystal, iron, magnesia, gold, petroleum, build¬ 
ing stone, and silver. 

Bolivar.—Fifty-one, as follows: Asphalt, rock crystal, phosphate of 
lime, guano, mercury (2), gold (44), and salt. 

Carabobo.—Seven, as follows: Copper, phosphate of lime, gold (4), 
and lead. 

Falcon.—Twelve, as follows: Asphalt, pitch, coal (4), copper (2), iron 
(2), gold, and silver. 

•Lara.—Nineteen, as follows: Amber, sulphate of lime, copper (6), 
tin, gold, silver (2), platinum (2), lead (4), and talc. 

Miranda (the old State).—Forty-one, as follows: Copperas, grind¬ 
stone, jet (2), coal (4), carbonate of lime, copper (4), rock crystal, 
quartz, diamond, tin, phosphate of lime, granite, iron (2), kaolin (2), 
magnesia, marble (3), ocher, gold (8), oxide of iron, silver, sphene, and 
gypsum (2). 

Zamora.—Nineteen, as follows: Copperas, alum (2), pitch (2), guano, 
rock crystal, cyanite, iron, opals, gold (2), petroleum, slate, silver, 
saltpeter (2), talc, and gypsum. 

Zulia.—Nine, as follows: Amber, asphalt (3), gold (4), and petroleum. 

The salt mines of the Republic are administered by the National Gov¬ 
ernment, and the} T yearly yield about one and a half million bolivars. 
The principal salt deposits are those of Cumana, Barcelona, Nueva 
Esparta, Falcon, and Zulia. 

Of these 226 mineral deposits, 62 are gold mines, 29 coal mines, 14 
copper ore, 10 iron ore, 9 silver, 7 sulphur, 7 lead, 6 asphalt, and 6 
rock crystal, the rest containing many other metals. 

The following table shows the number, location, and kind of mineral 
deposits known in Venezuela in 1894: a 


MINERAL DEPOSITS. 


205 


Kind of mine. 

F6d6ral district. 

State. 

Total. 

1 

05 

o 

tJ 

05 

"0 

a 

< 

N 

<X> 

a 

<X> 

« 

Sh 

oj 

> 

’o 

pq 

o 

X! 

o 

.o 

E 

cS 

a 

o 

o 

"aS 

o3 

M 

03 

'd 

d 

3 

t-4 

ci 

f-t 

O 

a 

a3 

N 

(S 

'B 

S3 

Copperas . 








1 

i 


2 

Red lead. 


l 









1 

Tar. 


5 









5 

Alum. 


2 







2 


4 

Amethyste. 

i 










1 

Amber. 







i 



1 

2 

Asphaltum. 


1 


1 


1 




3 

6 

Grindstone. 








1 



1 

Antimony. 

1 










1 

Jet. 








2 



2 

Sulphur. 


3 

4 








7 

Pitch. 






1 



2 


3 

Limestone. 

1 










1 

Sulphate of lime. 







i 




1 

Coal. 


9 

3 



4 


4 


4 

24 

Carbonate of lime. 



1 





1 



2 

Gai-lussite. 


1 









1 

Garnet. 

2 

2 









4 

Granite. 








1 



1 

Iron. 


4 

1 



2 


2 

1 


10 

Guano. 




1 







1 

Kaolin. 








2 



2 

Magnesia. 


1 

1 





1 



3 

Marble. 


2 






3 



5 

Copper . 


1 



1 

2 

6 

4 



14 

Bat guano. 


2 







1 


1 

Rock crystal. 



1 

1 




1 

1 


6 

Quartz. *. 








1 



i 

Cyanite. 









1 


i 

Diamond. 








1 



i 

Tin. 







1 

1 



2 

Phosphate of lime. 




1 

1 



1 



3 

Mercury. 




2 







2 

Ocher... 








1 



1 

Opals. 









1 


1 

Gold. 


1 

1 

44 

4 

1 

1 

8 

2 


62 

Oxide of iron. 








1 



1 

Petroleum. 


2 

1 






1 

1 

5 

Building stone. 



1 








1 

Slate. 


2 







1 


3 

Silver. 

1 

2 

1 



• 1 

2 

1 

1 


9 

Platinum. 







2 




2 

Lead. 

1 

1 



1 


4 




7 

Pork salt. 




1 







1 

Saltpeter . 


1 







2 


3 













Sfena, . 








1 



1 

Tale. 


1 





1 


1 


3 

Trona.. 


1 









1 

Gypsum.... 


1 






2 

1 


4 













Total. 

7 

46 

15 

51 

7 

12 

19 

41 

19 

9 

226 


a Venezuelan Yearbook, 1896. Eng. edit., pp. 165-170. 


One hundred and sixty kilometers south of the Orinoco River lies a 
great expanse of territory, millions of hectares in extent, much of 
which is known to contain gold, iron, copper, and other valuable min¬ 
erals. It is the firm conviction of highly competent engineers and 
other investigators who have carefully explored this region that when 
the extent, value, and comparative accessibility of its resources are 
once thoroughly understood, a strong stream of immigration will How 
in that direction. 

GOLD. 


Gold fields.—Except in a few instances, Venezuelan gold fields have 
not been exploited by men with large capital, competent experience, 
and a knowledge of modern mining machinery and methods. This 
gold region does not attract the placer miner, for the reason that the 


































































































































































206 


VENEZUELA. 


best deposits are quartz, and for their reduction an extensive plant is 
necessary. 

Development.—Another obstacle to the rapid development of the 
Venezuelan gold fields is, and has been, the belief that the climate of 
that section of South America is a particularly unwholesome and deadly 
one. It is true that during certain months people who go into the 
Orinoco Valle} 7- from the north, and who do not take precautions of a 
reasonable nature, are likely to contract malarial fevers; but diseases 
of this kind may easily be avoided by proper attendance to diet, water, 
and clothing. There is in the Venezuelan gold regions an abundance 
of good water and a number of powerful waterfalls capable of being 
utilized in a commercial wav. 

Lack of transportation.—The gold fields of Venezuela also suffer 
grievously from lack of adequate transportation facilities. They lie 
not more than 160 kilometers from the banks of one of the world’s 
greatest rivers, yet the miner has no railroad to transport all his 
supplies, which makes the operating of the mines very expensive. The 
gold therefore has to be worked under the same difficulties. The vital 
need of the region is a railroad connecting it with some point on the 
Orinoco River. 

Number of gold mines.—There were 62 gold mines discovered in Vene¬ 
zuela up to 1891, of which 11 are to be found in the rich Yuruari 
region of the State of Bolivar. 

Ciudad Bolivar gold exports from 1866 to 1885.—The amount of gold 
exported through Ciudad Bolivar from the Guayana gold mines from 
1866 to 1885 was 1,730,712 ounces, valued at $33,920,155. The Yuru¬ 
ari region yielded, in 1887 and 1888, 5,071 kilograms 923 grams of gold. 

Callao gold mines.—Many gold mines have been discovered in several 
States of the Venezuelan Federal Union, but the richest of all have 
been the Callao gold mines, which are world renowned. Their total 
output from 1886 to 1890 was 6,983.87 kilograms of gold. 

Gold output, 1871 to 1890, Callao mines.—The following figures, derived 
from official sources, show the products of the El Callao gold mines 
from 1871 to 1890: 

Callao gold mine. 


Year. 

Quartz. 

Gold. 

Value. 

Y ear. 

Quartz. 

Gold. 

Value. 

1871. 

Tons. 

315 
2,300 
3, 054 
3,963 
11, 859 
12,419 
11, 685 
9,670 
11,894 
18,624 
24,978 

Ounces. 

3,219.60 

8,326.67 
13,308.00 
17,187.68 
31,278.83 
42,542. 05 
48,168. 58 
49,638.88 
40,308.54 
54,013. 71 
72,254.62 

$53, 581.13 
136,978. 88 
204,576.11 
297,024. 70 
586,253. 47 
801, 747.83 
918,940. 73 
940,831.36 
749,417. 47 
1,000,099.10 
1,340, 373.20 

1882. 

Tons. 

22, 405 
24, 750 
30,936 
47,223 
73, 708 
66,167 
54,152 
57,301 
53,066 

Ounces. 

105,396.08 
134,392.68 
177,055.16 
114,454.07 
181,040.20 
a 73,863.71 
« 52,598.73 
a52,971.35 
a 49,439. 95 

$1,951,957.41 
2, 488,686.85 
3,283,751.35 
2,108,366.19 
3,323, 933.92 
1,366, 676. 72 
969,246.10 
989,307.02 
919,982. 99 

1872 . 

1883. 

1873 . 

1X84.... 

1874 . 

1885. 

1875 . 

1886.... 

1876 . 

1887. 

1877 . 

1888. 

1878 . 

1889. 

1879 . 

1890. 

1880 

Total. 

1881. 

540,472 

1,320,929. 09 

624,431,732.53 



a These suras are stated in troy ounces; ail others in Spanish ounces. 
b Values given in United States currency. 












































GOLD PRODUCTION. 


207 


Callao mines, gold output 1884 to 1899.—During fifteen }^ears ending 
1899 the Callao gold mines produced $23,000,000 American gold. 

Callao and other gold mines and their product.—The product of the 
Callao and other gold mines of the Yuruari region in 1887 and 1888, 
was as follows: 


Company. 

1887. 

1888. 

Total. 

Kilo¬ 

grams. 

Grams. 

Kilo¬ 

grams. 

Grams. 

Kilo¬ 

grams. 

Grams. 

El Callao. 

2,154 

130 

1,643 

701 

3,797 

836 

Chile. 

292 

648 

70 

348 

362 

996 

LaUni6n . 

201 

608 

195 

457 

397 

65 

El Callao bis. 



21 

351 

21 

351 

Cicapra . 


893 




893 

El Choco. 



3 

155 

3 

155 

Venezuelan Austin (Limited). 

1 

882 

151 

431 

156 

313 

Gold from several companies. 

33 

887 

186 

344 

220 

231 

Clay and amalgamated gold. 

45 

475 

69 

608 

115 

83 

Total. 

2,730 

523 

2,344 

400 

5,074 

923 


Yuruari gold mines product 1866 to 1895.—The total product of the 
mines of this district from 1866 to 1895 is estimated at over 90,000 
kilograms. 

Ciudad Bolivar gold exports 1875 to 1898.—The total exports of gold 
bars, gold ore, and gold concentrates in general from Ciudad Bolivar 
from July 1, 1875, to June 30, 1896, according to the latest official 
data, amounted to 67,987 kilos, valued at $34,129,348. From July 1, 
1896, to June 30, 1898, the total exports of gold through the same 
port amounted to 74,741 kilos, valued at $37,064,231. 

Gold production of Venezuela 1896 to 1903.—The following table shows 
the gold production of Venezuela from 1896 to 1903: 


Year. 

Gold 

product. 

Year. 

Gold 

product. 

1896 . 

8948,500 
1,057,400 
1,089,300 
593,500 
321, 200 

1901. 

$321,200 
433,800 
600, 000 

1897 . 

1902. 

1898 . 

1903. 

1899 . 

Total. 

5,364,900 

1900 . 




Gold production in America 1896 to 1903.—The Mint Bureau of the 
United States gives the following data concerning the production of 
gold in the American republics from 1896 to 1903: 


Country. 

1896. 

1897. 

1898. 

1899. 

United States . 

$53,088,000 
6.500,000 
315,000 
250,300 
1,001,100 
611,000 
2, 200,100 
132,900 

$57,363,000 
7,500, 000 

$64,463,000 
8,500,000 

$71,053,400 

Mexico. 

8,500,000 

Argentina. 

137.700 

137,700 

137,700 

"Bolivia, . . 

343, 500 

1,204,200 

117,600 

149,904 
2,119,500 

Brazil. . 

1,583, 700 

Chile . 

340, 000 

893,600 

1,298,600 
1,844, 600 

Colombia,. 

2,227, 200 

2,158, 700 

Ecuador .. 

132, 900 

39, 500 

47,900 

Peru . 

116,600 

628, 000 

628,000 

860,700 

TTrne r na.v . . . 

33,600 

39,800 

34,400 

27,500 

Venezuela. . 

948,500 

1,057,400 

1.089,300 

598,500 

Con f ra 1 A m eri ca. 

372, 300 

465,800 

477, 800 

586,100 


















































































208 


VENEZUELA. 


Country. 


United States ... 

Mexico. 

Argentina. 

Bolivia. 

Brazil. 

Chile.. 

Colombia. 

Ecuador . 

Peru. 

Uruguay. 

Venezuela. 

Central America 


1900. 


879,171,000 
9, 000,000 
43,700 

119,600 
2, 775,400 
1,627, 600 
1,194,900 
107,700 
1,085,200 

30,800 

321,200 
500,000 


1901. 


$78,666, 700 

10,284,800 
30,000 

119,600 
2, 775,400 
1,067,200 
2,801,300 
110,000 

575,200 
31, 700 

321,200 
640,300 


1902. 


$80,000,000 
10,153,100 


4, 700 

1,994,600 
575, 200 
2,522, 600 
200, 000 
2,326,100 

57.800 

433,800 
2,001,900 


1903.a 


$74,425,340 
12,550,000 
50,000 
150,000 
2,800,000 
575,000 
2,000,000 
250,000 
1, 750,000 
35,000 
600,000 
1, 600, 000 


a Engineering and Mining Journal, Jan. 7, 1904. 


Venezuela holds the fifth place among the gold-producing republics 
of America, as shown by the foregoing table. 


COPPER. 


Aroa copper mines. —There were in 1894 fourteen copper mines 
already discovered. Of these the most productive have been those of 
Aroa, which are some 112 kilometers distant from Puerto Cabello. 

Copper ore production 1800 and 1838. —These mines produced in 1800 
the amount of 1,500 quintals of copper ore, and in 1838 70,530 quintals. 

Copper ore production from 1880 to 1894.— The Aroa copper ore prod¬ 
ucts and values from 1880 to 1894 are given in the table following: 


Year. 

Copper 

ore. 

Value. 

Year. 

Copper 

ore. 

Value. 

1880. 

Tons. 

10,500 
17,020 
17,098 
23,848 
15,974 
32,585 
25,993 

a $442,290. 00 
730,740.00 
769,200.00 
1,161,097.98 
553,612. 47 
699,895.08 
520,556.10 

1887 . 

Tons. 
9,048 
20, 994 
16,432 
38,341 
21,427 
14, 911 
7, 708 

«$174,164.19 
731,974.18 
379,203.87 

1881. 

1888 . 

1882. 

1889-90 . 

1883. 

1891. 

1884. 

j 1892 . 


1885. 

! 1893 . 


1886. 

1894 . 






«U. S. Currency. 


IRON. 


I 

Iron-ore deposits.— In 1894 there were 10 known iron-ore deposits 
in Venezuela. 

“The Iron World” for July 27, 1900, says that the supreme court 
of Venezuela has decided the suit of the “Orinoco Iron Company,” 
a corporation organized in the State of Wisconsin, United States, which 
decision gives the company control of some 5,GG5 hectares of land 
rich in a number of mineral deposits. The concession was obtained 
in 1883, being originally acquired by an American citizen, formerly 
manager of the El Callao" mine of Venezuela. Only a few cargoes 
of the iron ore have ever been brought to the United States, but it is 
reported that arrangements are being made for opening the mines 
and providing for a regular business. 



























































ASPHALT. 


209 


Iron mines.—Regarding the ore of the mines in question, an engineer 
who has twice visited them in a professional capacity reports that the 
first occurrence of the ore is on the Imataca Mountains, about 86 kilo¬ 
meters from the mouth of the Orinoco. The first mines were opened 
near the island of Corosimo, and large vessels are able to approach 
within 15 meters of the shore. At this point the ore is about 487 
meters from the river and some 60 meters above it, appearing as bowl¬ 
ders from 45 kilograms to 100 tons in weight, and covering the tops 
of the hills for a distance of 914 meters in length and 30 meters in 
width. The engineer estimates that there were between 150,000 and 
200,000 tons of Bessemer ore in sight, and thinks that the true vein 
has a thickness of 3 meters. Bowlders of ore are found to the west¬ 
ward of this place for 56 kilometers. In this direction the hills increase 
in height and the ore increases with the size of the hills, the outcrop 
being at some points from 30 to 91 meters wide and thousands of tons 
lie at the surface. A sample of the Imataca ore, as analyzed in a 
report to the United States Geological Survey, gave the following 
results: Metallic iron, 66.76; silicia, 0.69; lime, 3.28; manganese, 0.07; 
sulphur, 0.011; phosphorus, 0.0327. It would appear, therefore, that 
the Orinoco ores may come into the market as rivals to those now 
brought to the seacoast cities of the United States. 

Iron-ore shipments.—On January 6, 1901, the British steamer Tresco 
arrived at Baltimore with 700 tons of iron ore from Manoa, where 
deposits of this mineral are being developed about 112 kilometers from 
the mouth of the Orinoco River. This vessel is said to be the first 
merchantman to load ore there. 

Iron-ore mine transfer.—Negotiations are reported as pending between 
the property owners and a British ironmaster with a view to the sale of 
vast iron-ore lands, controlled principally by New York parties, at Ima¬ 
taca, on the Orinoco River, Venezuela. Should the deal be consum¬ 
mated, extensive arrangements will be made for the shipping of the ore 
to ports in both the United States and Great Britain. The property, 
which is reported to be the largest and most valuable of the known 
workable deposits on this continent, contains, it is claimed, 67 per 
cent of metallic ore, while the average percentage shown b\ T United 
States lake ores is said to be some 60 per cent. The British parties 
propose to import the ore with a view to its taking the place of Span¬ 
ish iron, which is at present the principal foreign ore utilized by Eng¬ 
lish mills. The production of Bilbao ores is said to be rapidly dimin¬ 
ishing, the metallic average of the ore being but 50 per cent. 

ASPHAXiT. 

There were six known asphalt deposits of importance in Venezuela 
in 1894. The richest are the following: 

Pedernales asphalt.—On the island of Pedernales, which is formed 
4a—04-14 



210 


VENEZUELA. 


by the two delta streams, the Cucirina and the Pedernales, its northern 
shore being’ that of the Gulf of Paria, is found a vast supply of 
asphaltum. The land is low, intersected by small streams, and con¬ 
taining many ponds of salt and brackish water. In such ponds on the 
northern shore is found the asphaltum known as Pedernales asphalt. 
This differs in the main from that found at La Brea, in Trinidad, in 
being generally more liquid, purer, and freer from earthy matter, and 
in containing a greater percentage of oils. Like the deposits at Trini¬ 
dad, this is found in a series of springs in conjunction with water, and, 
as at Trinidad, it forms a thick flooring of pitch in places, and to an 
appreciable depth. The Pedernales asphalt is remarkably pure, and 
when refined presents a hard, lustrous, vitreous fracture, and in 
appearance is identical with the Egyptian refined, known in commerce 
as “Epure.” As found, it is a thick, black, viscous mass, without 
odor and strongly adherent. The process of refining consists in 
merely boiling it, thus depriving it of a large proportion of the higher 
volatiles and all contained moisture. Refining may be carried on to 
any degree, even to the extent of complete carbonization. The 
deposits at Pedernales may be said to be the same, geologically con¬ 
sidered, as that of Trinidad at La Brea, notwithstanding that the 
Trinidad contains a quantity of earthy matter almost inseparable, 
although mechanically mixed. These earths are mainly very finely 
divided clays held in suspension by the viscous asphaltum. The pres¬ 
ence of these impurities adds largely to the weight, and while proving 
but little detriment to the many uses of the material debars it from 
others. The Pedernales deposit can be used for an} T purpose known in 
the arts and is as desirable for varnishes and chemical compounds as it 
is useful in increasing the elasticity of the asphalts w hich contain too 
small a percentage of volatiles. The Pedernales asphalt can be refined 
“to order,” thus exactly fulfilling desired conditions imposed by users. 
This makes its utility much wider than is possible to deposits of hard, 
earthy character. 

Maracaibo asphalt.—A series of mines (or lakes) situated on the 
shores of Lake Maracaibo are worked by an American company, 
which has built a railroad from the mines to the shore of the lake. 
During the last six months of 1902 the company exported 3,355 tons 
of asphalt, and hopes to ship soon 2,000 tons monthly. They ship 
crude and refined asphalt. 

Asphalt imports from Venezuela in 1900 and 1901.—The asphalt im¬ 
ported by the United States in 1901 from Venezuela amounted to 
18,605 long tons, as against 11,579 tons in 1900, an increase of 7,026 
tons, or 60 per cent. The total imports from Trinidad and Venezuela 
in 1901 amounted to 131,189 long tons, as against 105,266 tons in 1900. 
The chief source of the importation of asphaltum in the United States 
is the wonderful lake of pitch filling the crater of an extinct volcano 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



NARICUAL MINES—ENTRANCE TO THE MAIN GALLERY. 













COAL. 


211 


on the island ot‘ Trinidad, off the coast of Venezuela. In addition, 
imports are made from the State of Bermudez in Venezuela. 


COAL. 


Twenty-four coal deposits were known in Venezuela in 1891. 

A mining* expert published recently an article on the coal trade of 
South America in the Mining Journal of New York City from which 
the following, referring to the coal deposits of Venezuela, is an abstract: 

The question of an economical fuel supply for northern South 
America, a region developing within easy reach of the commercial 
influence of the United States, has at times been discussed with some 
interest, and the fact that coal commands a high price there is 
frequently taken as a basis for the most exaggerated claims in regard 
to the value of certain lignite deposits found in South America, near 
the Caribbean Sea. I have during the past few years examined all the 
seacoast from the Gulf of Darien to the mouth of the Orinoco River, 
and a number of times have been called to report on the various 
deposits found in those regions. These vary from an impure recent 
lignite to a good appearing Cretaceous brown coal, and are reDorted 
from the following places: 

Coal deposits.—West of the Orinoco River in the State of Bermudez, 
Venezuela, a brown coal of apparently good quality. 

In the regions back of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, a brown coal, 
not so compact as that found in the State of Bermudez. 

Near Maracaibo and the State of Bermudez, in Venezuela, apparently 
a soft lignite. 

Brown coal.—The term brown coal is intended to mean a more com¬ 
pact variety as distinguished from a very soft lignite that frequentl} 7 
crumbles in the hand and is quite characteristic of many of the South 
American deposits. After the movements that finally formed the 
Andes Mountains in Cretaceous times, the northern coast of South 
America presented a series of deep embayments represented now by 
the valleys of the Atrato, Magdalena, Ranchena, and Orinoco rivers 
and the streams flowing into the Gulf of Maracaibo. These embay¬ 
ments penetrated far to the south. The conditions for rapid sede- 
mentations could not have been more favorable, and sand bars, lagoons, 
and swamps, gradually working seaward, were natural points for plant 
accumulations, and formed a series of lignite beds general^ onl} r a 
few inches deep, but which at some places are apparently a very con¬ 
siderable accumulation. In the State of Bermudez, Venezuela, there 
are extensive deposits of a good quality of brown coal, resembling very 
much the Cretaceous coals of the Andes in its general appearance as 
well as in the lithological characters of adjacent rocks and formations. 
The other coal deposits, found near the coast, excepting perhaps some 
in western Venezuela, are all in shales of soft sandstone, apparently 
formed out of miocene sediments. 


212 


VENEZUELA. 


Eastern deposits.—In eastern Venezuela, where the rocks are firmer, 
a great deal of work has been done, and a short railroad has been con¬ 
structed from the mines to Guanta, the seaport, where a plant is in 
operation for combining the coal with asphalt to make a patent fuel 
similar to the Cardiff blocks. 

Western deposits.—At the mines in western '\ enezuela some efiort 
has been made, but, though money has been spent in opening the 
properties, there are no practical results. 

The great quantities of asphalt found in Venezuela will probably 
yield desirable material to mix with the lignite to form briquets, and 
may be the basis of a future important industry. In all this vast 
region, however, workable seams of lignite are indicated only at a few 


distant locations. 

Transportation facilities.—There is all the ocean steamship trade that 
now carries coal from a distance at the expense of freight capacity; 
there is the river steamboat trade on the Orinoco; there is an increas¬ 
ing railroad system to be supplied, and the growing demands of the 
cities of Caracas, La Guaira, Maracaibo, etc., though this last will 
probably be supplied with fuel, in part at least, from its natural-gas 


wells. 

At present most of the coal used in northern South America is sup¬ 
plied from Cardiff, but some is purchased in the United States, and 
the future of the trade is well worth considering . a 

Quality of coal.—The Mining Journal, of London, quotes Mr. E. 
Cortese, a noted European mining expert, as saying that coal occurs 
widel} r distributed throughout Venezuela. u It is invariably of Oligo- 
cene age. The principal centers are to the south of Carupano, the 
Rio Casani, Naricual, Capiricual, Querequal, and Araguita. At Nari- 
cual the coal contains 1.25 per cent of moisture, 38.13 per cent of 
volatile constituents, and 2.83 per cent of ash. The yield of coke is 
58.19 per cent and the calorific power 9,052.8 calories." 


SULPHUR. 

Seven sulphur deposits had been discovered in Venezuela up to 
1891, and the following is a condensed report of the sulphur deposits 
of Venezuela, which are described as so promising, but which as yet 
have not been extensively worked. 

Sulphur deposits.—In a direction south-southeast from Carupano, at 
a distance of about 15 kilometers ( 9^ miles) in a straight line, there 
are some immense deposits of sulphur mineral, located on the south¬ 
ern slope of the mountains, 300 meters (981 feet) above sea level. 
These deposits have remained unexplored until recently, owing to the 
great difficult}" of transporting the mineral to the seashore. 

Method of transportation.—The only method of transportation to the 
present time has been on the backs of mules and donkeys, which has 


« Article by Engineer Francis C. Nicholas. 



SALT. 


213 


made the cost of the product too great to permit its exportation to the 
markets of Europe and America. The present proprietor of the 
mines has, in a degree, overcome this difficulty by securing from the 
Venezuelan Government a concession to build a wire tramway from 
the deposits to one of the many canos (branches of rivers) which flow 
into the Gulf of Paria, and to navigate those canos by means of 
lighters and tugboats which will carry the sulphur to vessels loading 
for foreign ports. The length of the tramway will exceed 10 kilome¬ 
ters (6i miles), and the river navigation is more than 30 kilometers 
(20 miles). 

Number of deposits.—There are five large deposits of sulphur min¬ 
eral, quite free from any overgrowth, presenting a surface area of 
about 300,000 square meters (9,113 square yards). Besides these there 
are a number of smaller deposits covered with overgrowth, which will 
gradually be cleared while working the larger areas. It has beeu 
found that all of the deposits penetrate to a great depth and are prac¬ 
tically inexhaustible. 

Quality of mineral.—The qualit}" of the mineral has been tested by 
London experts, five different samples giving an average of 62£ per 
cent of pure sulphur. A sample sent to a German chemist showed 
over 83 per cent pure sulphur. The richness of the deposits may be 
judged when it is known that the best Sicilian minerals never contain 
more than 40 per cent of pure sulphur and the average is but 25 per 
cent. 


Cost of production.—It is estimated that the cost of this sulphur on 
board ship will not exceed $4 per ton, and that the cost laid down in 
the port of New York will not be in excess of $6 per ton. 

Sulphur company.—A company floated in Germany with a capital of 
2,000,000 marks ($476,000) for the purpose of exploiting the immense 
sulphur deposits situated near Carupano, is actively at work setting 
up the aerial cable by which sulphur will be carried from the mine to 
the port, a distance of about 18 kilometers (11.18 miles). The landing 
wharf is finished, and the managers only await the completion of the 
wire-rope railroad to begin loading on a large scale. The company 
has at the present time in its employ about 100 laborers. With this 
force and with the additional help that will be added when the 
abundance of the product to be extracted renders it necessary, the 
company expects to mine a large quantity of sulphur. The crude 
sulphur will be shipped from the port of Carupano to Europe and the 
United States. The indications are that the product of these mines 
will soon become a vast and important industry of the Republic. 


SALT. 


Salt exports in 1901.—During the year 1901, the amount of salt 
exported from the mines or deposits of Zulia amounted to 3,363,500 
kilograms, the revenue to the nation resulting from export duties 


214 


VENEZUELA. 


amounting to 978,537.62 bolivars. In the quantity exported must be 
included 598,000 kilograms sent to the government of the Tachira, 
the duty on which represented 169,935 bolivars. 

Coche salt.—The report of the Chamber of Commerce of Maracaibo 
further states that the salt from the deposits of Coche is white and 
firm and that large quantities are distributed throughout the various 
States of the Republic. White salt is also obtained from the island of 
San Carlos. The yellow salt is consumed in considerable quantities in 
the (former) Andes States, the onl} r consumption of the white variety 
in that section being in the salting factories in the State of Zulia. 

Method of transportation.—The salt for export is generally packed 
in gunny sacks and then in packages of 105 pounds gross weight, and 
the ships which carry the cargoes to the ports on the coast of Lake 
Maracaibo and its tributary rivers take it on board at the very places 
where it is mined. That used in the State of Zulia is packed in sacks 
of 125 pounds net, and is brought to Maracaibo in schooners. It is 
then distributed throughout the State of Tachira and a part of the 
Department of Santander, in the Republic of Colombia, where salt of 
other classes finds no market. 

Araya salt.—The rich salt mine upon the peninsula of Araya, dis¬ 
covered by Nino in 1499, from which the Government of Venezuela 
has derived $2,753,761.44 of revenue since 1874, is still worked. It 
consists of an inexhaustible deposit of almost pure salt, which is mined 
at very small labor and expense. 

Salt product from 1832 to 1881.—The following table gives the pro¬ 
duct of the Venezuelan salt mines from 1832 to 1881. 


Year. 

Salt 

product. 

Yea* 

Salt 

product. 

1832. 

a 867,060 
16,610 
59,637 
188,979 
255, 111 
138,280 

1860. 

« 8143,215 
10,422 
54,253 
185,010 
225,831 

1835. 

1865. 

1840. 

1871. 

1845 . 

1875. 

1850. 

1881. 

1855 . 



a U. S. currency. 


Salt product from 1885 to 1894.—The following table shows the pro¬ 
duction of the Venezuelan salt deposits and mines from 1885 to 1894: 


Year. 

Permits. 

Gross returns. 

Net returns. 

1885. 

Kilograms. 
15,123,200 
16,425,300 
16,335,667 
16,279,800 
16,195,500 
14,116, 650 
13,170,000 
6,222,100 
16,491,850' 
17,084,600 

Bolivar s.b 
1,371,845.00 
1,520, 504.81 
1,652,321.69 
1,648,121.49 
1,639, 982.61 
1,426,826.92 
1,342,677.27 
631,468.15 
1,701,529.21 
1,762,126.57 

Bolivars, b 
600,000. 00 
608,029.83 
826,160.84 
824,060. 75 
819,991. 30 
819,022.27 
872, 740.23 
411,523.26 
1,198,637. 34 
1,220,872.77 

1886. 

1887. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890. . 

1891. 

1892. 

1893. 

1894. 

Total. 

147,444,660 

14,697,403.72 

8,201,038.59 

United States currencv_ 


$2,939,480.00 

$1,640,207.00 

1 


b Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


















































MINERAL PRODUCTS. 


215 


Yearly average returns. 

Kilograms. 

Gross returns. 

Net returns. 


14, 744, 466 
$293, 948 
$164, 020 


General statement of salt obtained and exploited from the salt deposits and mines of 
Venezuela , and of the quantities in stock, for 1894. 


Salt deposits or 
mines. 

Salt produced. 

Salt exploited. 

Stock on 
hand 
December 
31,1894. 

Former 
stock on 
hand. 

New pro¬ 
ductions. 

Total. 

For domes¬ 
tic con¬ 
sumption. 

Waste in 
storage. 

Total. 

Coehe . 

Arava. 

Barcelona. 

Kilograms. 
5,722,250 
680,050 

Kilograms. 
11,254,760 
2,786,901 
183,700 
4,980, 840 
1,069, 700 

Kilograms. 
16,977,010 
6,466,951 
183,700 
5,659,571 
1,147,050 

Kilograms. 
7,898,650 
5,343,500 
183,700 
2,932,800 
1,006,450 

Kilograms. 
738,800 

Kilograms. 
8,637,450 
5,343,500 
183, 700 
2,933,720 
1,006,450 

Kilograms. 
8,339,560 
1,123,451 

Maracaibo. 

Coro. 

Total. 

678,731 
77,350 

920 

2,725,851 
140, 600 

7,158,381 

23,275,901 

30,434,282 

17, 365,100 

739,720 

18,104,820 

12,329,462 


Salt product from 1900 to 1903.—The following table shows the quan¬ 
tity and value of the salt produced in Venezuela from 1900 to 1903: 


Year. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

1900 . 

Kilograms. 
6,026,450 
13,457,423 
13,112,699 
7,576,742 

a $215,482 
565,515 
529,122 
295, 730 

1901 .. . 

1902 . . 

1903 . . 



a U. S. currency. 


MINERAL PRODUCTS. 


The mineral products exhibited b} r Venezuela at the Chicago World’s 
Fair (1893) were as follows: 

MINERALS. 

Opal. Tinaquillo. 

Rock-crytals from fissures in the gneissic mountains, neighborhood of 
Caracas. 

Chrysotile in serpentine. Barquisimeto. 

Asbestos in gneiss. Caracas. 

Double-refracting calcic spar, from the neighborhood of Santa Lucia 
and Santa Teresa, on the River Tuv. 

Talcum, from the neighborhood of Caracas. 

Urao (sesquicarbonate of lime), from the bottom of the small lake of 
Lagunillas near Merida. The finest quality is called espejueto , and 
sells about 80 cents a pound; it is used for preparing chimo, a highly 
condensed extract of tobacco, which is almost indispensable to the 
inhabitants of the Cordillera. 

Gaylussite, sesquicarbonate of soda and lime, from the bottom of the 
lake of Lagunillas near Maracaibo. It is known in the country under 
the name of clavos (?. e ., 'nails), in allusion to the shape of the crystals. 























































216 


VENEZUELA. 


Galena. Barquisimeto. 
Galena. Caracas. 
Galena. Carabobo. 
Galena. Cumana. 


ORES. 


VEIN GOLD. 


Auriferous quartz and vein rock, from the mine El Callao, Yuruari 
Territory, Guiana. The district of Yuruari has.realized to a certain 
degree the old fable of the famous Dorado, the amount of gold 
exported from 1860 to 1890 being of 70,192,400 kilograms, valued at 
$46,650,197, the larger part of which has been produced by the Callao 
mine. 


COPPER ORES. 


Copper ore and other ores (iron, silver, gold), from the mines of 
Chacao, near Ciudad de Cura , in the State of Miranda. 

Copper and antimony with gold and silver. Barquisimeto. 

Siliceous and argillaceus limestone, with some glucina, oxide of 
chrome, and small fibers of asbestos. Barquisimeto. 

Siliceous limestone with galena. Barquisimeto. 

Sulphuret of iron and copper, with antimony, silver, and some traces 
of gold. Barquisimeto. 

Sulphuret of iron and copper, with antimony, gold, and silver. Bar¬ 
quisimeto. 

Sulphuret of iron and arsenicum. Barquisimeto. 

Siliceous limestone with lead and traces of silver. Barquisimeto. 

Sulphuret of copper and iron with antimony, silver, and gold in small 
quantities. Barquisimeto. 

Sulphuret of iron, with copper, antimony, gold, and silver, from the 
mines of Buria. Barquisimeto. 

Copper, gold, silver, antimony, agentiferous galena, tin, sulphur, 
guano, niter; from different localities in the section Yaracuy of the 
State of Lara. 

Copper ore (mostly carbonate), from El Carrizal. 

Green and blue copper carbonate, from the mines of Guaicaipuro, 
State of Miranda. 

Sulphuret of copper with silver and gold. Barquisimeto. 

Copper ore, containing some silver and gold. Barquisimeto. 

Copper ore, with some antimony, gold, and traces of silver. Bar¬ 
quisimeto. 

Copper ore (pyrites and carbonate) and regulus. In Aroa (Yaracuy). 

The Aroa mines are located in the section Yaracuy of the State Lara, 
on the banks of the river Aroa, which flows into the Caribbean Sea. 
Their distance from the port of Tucacas is about 143 kilometers and 
their height above sea level 355 meters. They were discovered, in 1605, 
by Alonso de Oviedo; but during the whole epoch of Spanish rule the 


IRON ORE. 


217 


produce was very in significant. In the last century they became, by 
inheritance, the property of the Liberator Simon Bolivar, and were 
afterwards sold by his family to an Englishman. To-day they belong 
to an English company in London, whose capital is formed b} r 306,447 
shares of £3 each. The ore is found in a kind of slaty limestone and 
is principally chalcopyrite, called yellow ore by the miners, containing 
9 to 12 per cent of metallic copper. This ore undergoes several trans¬ 
formations, being changed into red oxide {ruby ore) and carbonate of 
copper (?nalaquite and azurite). Nearly all the output is shipped to 
Swansea, in England; only the poor carbonate is reduced first to 
regulus containing from 25 to 30 per cent of copper. From 1878 to 
1891 there were shipped 329,218 tons of ore (averaging* 11.25 per cent 
of copper) and 53,053 tons of regulus (averaging 27.75 per cent). 
These quantities represent, therefore, 51,759 tons of metal, which, 
at the average price of £54 per ton, make a total of £2,794,986, or 
nearly $14,000,000 American gold. The copper from Venezuela goes 
to Swansea under the name of 44 quebrada” ore and holds in that 
market the second place after Chile. 

IRON ORES. 

m 

Iron ore from Imataca.—The iron mine of Imataca is the property of 
a North American citizen. It is situated 86 kilometers from the 44 Boca 
Grande” of the Orinoco, in the Federal Territory 44 Delta,” on the 
cano Corosimo, in 8° 29' latitude north and 61° 18' longitude west 
from Greenwich. By analysis it was found that the ore contains from 
67 to 70 per cent of pure iron, and is to be classified as magnetic-specu¬ 
lar iron ore (oligiste). It can be reduced without difficulty and yields 
a first-class steel. The mine is about 500 meters distant from the cano 
Corosimo, which is deep enough for vessels of from 2,000 to 3,000 
tons burden. The veins have been exposed for a distance of more than 
8 kilometers, and can be worked easily; there are besides about 200,000 
tons of surface ore. As the mine is only 2,000 miles from Baltimore 
or New York, it offers more advantages for transport than the mines 
of Bilbao in Spain, or those of Sweden, which are from 4.000 to 5,000 
miles distant from said ports. In addition, it must be observed that 
the Imataca iron is only equaled by the very best Swedish produce. 

Bog iron ore.—Caracas. 

Iron ore (iron pyrites).—State of Bermudez. 

Iron ore (oligiste), from Manoa, Territory of the Orinoco. 

MINERAL COAL. 

Mineral coal, mines of Naricual, near Barcelona. Composition: 
Water, 6; volatile substances, 43; carbon, 45; leaves, 6 of ashes (con¬ 
taining about 3.3 per 100 of iron oxide), and yields a very compact 
coke. 


218 


VENEZUELA. 


Mineral coal, from the same locality. 

Mineral coal, from San Fernando, near Cumanacoa, at a distance of 
about 56 Kilometers from Cumana. 

Mineral coal, from Villa de Cura. 

Mineral coal, from Cocollar, Cumana. 

Mineral coal, from Valle de la Pascua, Guarico. A kind of lignite. 

Lignite, from Nirgua, in the State of Carabobo. Shows still much 
of the structure of wood, which appears to be that of conifer, perhaps 
a species of Podocarpus. 

Mineral coal, from Cumarebo (Coro). A very good lignite that 
burns freely with a white blaze and leaves but 3.3d per cent ash. 
From an analysis made some years ago in Leipzig it contains: Carbon, 
61.19; hydrogen, 5.36; oxygen, 29.81. Its calorific effect is there¬ 
fore equal to 518,155 calories, while Cardiff coal gives 721,215, so 
that 100 tons of this latter are equal to 132.8 tons of Cumarebo coal. 

Azabache (jet), from Tocuyo. Formerly used for making mourning 
ornaments. 

ASPHALT CM. 

Asphaltum (chapapote), from Cumana. 

Solid asphaltum, from Maracaibo. 

Liquid asphaltum, from Pedernales, Delta of the Orinoco. 

Petroleum, from Pedernales, Delta of the Orinoco. 

Mineral products, from the asphaltum mines and petroleum wells of 
Pedernales, Delta of the Orinoco. Pedernales is the name of the most 
northern channel by which the Orinoco ffows into the sea. A char¬ 
tered company is actually working in a certain localit}^ on its banks 
what appears to be a very promising deposit of asphaltum and petro¬ 
leum, the outcome being highly satisfactory. 

Petroleum, from Cumana, near Manicuare. 

Petroleum, from Betijoque, mountains of Trujillo. 

BUILDING STONES, MARBLES, ETC. 

Marble; two samples, one from the “Morro,” of Valencia, the other 
from Puerto Cabello. 

Marble, from Guanango near Borburata, at a short distance from 
Puerto Cabello. A rough block from the surface and several polished 
ones. 

Marble, from Carupano. 

Stalactites, Cumana. 

Piedra sillar, a large-grained somewhat calcareous sandstone from the 
younger cretaceous formation in the mountains of Cumana. It is used 
as a building stone and also for making drip stones or water filters. 

Samples of stones used now for street pavement in Caracas. It is a 
metamorphic limestone of great hardness, which is to be found rather 
abundantly in the neighborhood of the-city. 


MINERAL WATERS. 


219 


CLAYS AND OTHER FICTILE MATERIALS. 

Kaoline, or pure alumina. Island of Margarita. 

Kaoline, from Cumanacoa. 

Compact kaoline, from Barquisimeto. 

Pipe clay, with traces of lignite and petroleum, from Cumana. 

LIMESTONE, CEMENTS, AND ARTIFICIAL STONE. 

Magnesian limestone, somewhat siliceous, and containing, besides, clay 
and oxide of iron. Barquisimeto. 


SALTS, SULPHUR, FERTILIZERS. 

Niter, Bermudez. 

Native feather alum, from Yaracuy, State of Lara. 

Sulphur, from the 44 azufrales,” near Cariipano. 

Tierra de caracolillo, i. e., shell earth, from lands which formerly 
were covered by the waters of the lake of Valencia. It is a kind of 
clay, full of small shells of mollusks (especially Ancylus moricandi , 
llydrobia coronata , //. stagnalis , II. ernesti , Plctnorlns promts) and a 
large number of sponge-spiculse and diatomaceous shells. It is exceed¬ 
ingly fertile. 

Phosphate of lime, from Los Roques, a small group of islands, due 
north of La Guaira. 

Samples of green, gray, and black phosphatic earth, from the island 
El Gran Roque. Colon Territory. 

Phosphatic guano, from Aves Island. 

Guano, from Santa Fe (Cumana). 

Guano, from Aguas Blancas, District of Araure, State of Zamora. 


MINERAL WATERS. 


Mineral water, from 4 4 Las Trincheras.” The springs are located on 
the northern slope of the mountain chain between Puerto Cabello and 
Valencia, and have a temperature of 206° F., the temperature of the 
air being about 76 degrees. The chemical composition was investi¬ 
gated by Boussingault with the result that the water is sulphurous and 
sodic. There exists a comfortable establishment near the spring for 
the use of visitors. 

Samples of sediment left by the water of the spring of k 4 Las Trin¬ 
cheras,” in the basin from which it issues. 

Alkaline water from Baibacoa (Coro). 

Alkaline water from Caujaro (Coro). 

Alkaline water from Guadalupe (Coro). This water contains chloride 
of sodium, 0.344; sulphate of soda, 0.690; bicarbonate of soda, 0.771; 
carbonate of iron, 0.318; carbonate of lime, 0.14S; silicon, 0.371 (total, 
2,642 grammes per liter). 


220 


VENEZUELA. 


PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS OF THE MINING LAW. 

Mining legislation.—The mining legislation of "\ enezuela was for¬ 
merly similar to that of the other States under the dominion of Spain; 
but since the establishment of independence it has entirely freed 
itself from such legislation, and has passed many new and elaborate 
laws on the subject of mines. 

Present mining law.—The existing code, which was promulgated on 
January 23.1904, contains some special features, and will therefore be 
treated in detail. 

Classification of minerals.—Are considered as mines every accumula¬ 
tion of inorganic metalliferous substances, or of combustible matter, 
deposited on the surface or in the interior of the-earth, or of precious 
stones admitting of regular mining work and of being used as jewelry. 
Asphalt, tar. pitch, petroleum, kaolin clay, phosphates, saltpeter, 
colombin. guano, fertilizers (whether mineral or not) come under the 
same classification, as also building and ornamental stones, sand, 
slates, etc., and all other material of this kind. 

Pearls, coral, sponges, amber, mother-of-pearl, and other material 
of this kind are not classified under mines and are governed by special 
rules. 

Mining ownership.—The ownership of mines belongs to the States, 
their administration belongs to the Federal Executive, and their 
exploitation to those who hold concessions in due form. Owners of 
the soil must hold a concession to be entitled to exploit any mine 
within their landed property. The soil extends from the surface 
3 meters downward: the subsoil from 3 meters below the surface to 
an indefinite depth. The title of ownership is granted by the President 
of the Republic. 

Mining concessions.—Concessions are granted by the Federal Execu¬ 
tive. Concessions for vein mines are perpetual: for alluvion gold for 
at least fifty years. Both are considered real estate. Concessions 
shall not exceed 900 hectares for mineral coal and 300 hectares for 
veined mines. Concessionaires shall alwavs be considered as Yene- 

zuelans and can not allege rights as foreigners in matters connected 

*_ 

herewith. 

Debarred as concessionaires.—The following are henceforward de- 
barred from acquiring or holding any participation in mining enter 
prises: Mining engineers and all employes of the Department of Mines 
within the jurisdiction of their department: presidents of States, gov 
ernors of Territories or of the Federal District, and revenue officers 
within their respective jurisdictions. Judges in charge of mining 
matters are also debarred. 

Mining taxes.—Alluvion gold, on river beds or in public lands, not 
worked by machinery, is free from taxation. Vein minerals pay 2 


MINING CODE. 


221 


bolivars a year per hectare and 3 per cent on the gross yield of the 
mine. Alluvion gold, not otherwise classified, pays 10 per cent on 
the gross production and 2 bolivars a year per hectare. The taxes are 
pa} T able to the Federal Executive, who may exempt, from time to 
time, such machinery and utensils from customs duties when in his 
judgment it may tend to the development of the mining industry in 
Venezuela. 

MINING CODE. 

[Full text of law.] 

Title I .— Classification. 

Article 1 . A mine is every accumulation of inorganic metallifer¬ 
ous substances and fossils [combustibles] which are found in the 
interior or on the surface of the earth, whether in veins, layers, or 
deposited in any other form, and of precious stones which are capable 
of being exploited and of being used in jewelry. Deposits of asphalt, 
tar, pitch, petroleum, and other like substances, as kaoline clay, phos¬ 
phates, saltpeter, colombine, guano, and every other substance used 
for fertilizing, whether mineral or not, shall likewise be considered 
mines. 

Sole paragraph: Pearls, coral, sponges, amber, mother-of-pearl, and 
other like materials, whether found in placers or disseminated on the 
coast, shall not be considered mines, and their exploitation shall be 
governed by special regulations of the Federal Executive, or of the 
respective States, according as these substances are found within the 
national jurisdiction or that of the State. 

Art. 2. Building and ornamental stone, sand, slate, clay, lime, puz- 
zolana, peat, earthy and stony substances of all sorts belong to the 
"owner of the soil, whether a private individual, the nation, or the 
States, and anyone ma} r exploit them, provided he has obtained the 
permission of the owner. 

Art. 3. As the exploitation of the mines situated within the terri¬ 
tory of Venezuela is a matter of public utility, their exploration and 
exploitation shall be governed by the provisions of the present code 
and the general laws. 

Art. T. The ownership of mines belongs to the States, their adminis¬ 
tration to the Federal Executive, and their exploitation to those who 
have obtained or may obtain a concession in conformity with the 
provisions of this code. 

Title II. —Of mining property. 

Art. 5. Mines can not be exploited, even by the owner of the soil, 
without obtaining a concession from the Federal Executive. 

Sole paragraph: From the promulgation of the present code, the 
exploitation of mines, whether of asphalt, bitumen, bituminous pitch, 


222 


VENEZUELA. 


or other like substances, shall be carried on in the manner the Federal 
Executive shall deem expedient. 

Art. 6 . Exploitation shall be carried on within the concessions 
granted by the Federal Executive, and these shall not exceed 900 hec¬ 
tares for mines of mineral coal, nor 300 hectares for veined mines. 
Concessions for mines of alluvion gold, in whatever kind of deposit or 
place it may be found, shall be granted by square plots, the side of 
which may extend from ten meters to five kilometers long, the later in 
case they are to be worked with hydraulic motors or other mechanical 
appliances. 

Art. 7. Concessions for veined mines are declared perpetual and to 
be real estate. Mining concessions for alluvion gold shall be granted 
for a minimum term of fifty years, and are likewise declared real 
estate. 

Art. 8 . In every zone or circumscription there is soil and subsoil. 
The former begins at the surface and extends in a vertical line three 
meters below the surface, and the second begins at a depth of three 
meters and extends to an indefinite depth. 

Art. 9. When a concession has been granted it constitutes of itself 
real estate, and as such may be acquired, alienated, mortgaged, and 
encumbered, in accordance with the provisions of the civil code. 

Sole gmragraph .—The buildings, machinery, apparatus, and all work 
executed and installed for the improvement and development of every 
kind of mine while they are in the service of the concession, shall also 
be considered real estate. 

Art. 10. The right of even^ concessionary ends at the limits of his 
concession; nevertheless if anyone while working his vein or deposit, 
whether it consist of lodes or alluvion placers, should touch on lands 
which have not been granted, or are comprised within a lapsed con¬ 
cession, he shall have the preferent right to ask for another conces¬ 
sion of the adjacent land. 

Sole paragraph .—If an individual or company, in the course of 
exploitation, should touch upon an alien concession he shall suspend 
his operations immediately on observing the fact, or on his being 
brought to account by the owner, and he must divide in half the net 
value of the ore which he may have extracted in good faith; but if he 
should maliciously trespass upon alien property, he shall not have any 
right to the ore extracted and he shall pay double the value of the 
said ore to the owner of the concession who must prove the bad faith 
in a contested suit. 

Art. 11. All minerals found within the limits of concessions of 
veined mines, with the exception of those substances referred to in 
the sole paragraph to article 5, belong to the concessionary, who may 
freely exploit the same without the necessity of a new concession. In 
mining concessions of alluvion corrido gold, the concessionaries shall 


MINING CODE. 


223 


have the preference, during thirty days for denouncing and acquiring, 
according to the provisions of this code, all the lodes or veins which 
are found in the said concessions. 

Art. 12. When alfaretas or alfarjetas —that is to say, interjacent 
spaces—not granted are found between two or more properties, they 
shall be granted to that owner of an abutting concession who first 
requests it; and on their renouncing to aiyr private individual who 
asks for it. 

Art. 13. The title of ownership or concession shall be granted by the 
President of the Republic, stamped with the seal of the Federal Execu¬ 
tive and countersigned by the minister of Fomento, in the following 

form: u Whereas citizen [or citizens]_[company] or [firm] has 

asked to adjudicate to him [or them] a mining property of [such a 
class] of [such extent] situated in [such a municipality of such a district] 
of the State, Territory, or Federal district, the boundaries of which 
according to the respective plan, made by engineer or land surveyor 

[Mr. So-and-so], are as follows_and whereas all the requirements 

of the code of mines now in force have been fulfilled, the President of 
the Republic adjudicates to [so and so], his heirs and those claiming 
under him, the mining concession of [extent] situate in [municipality 
and district] of [State or Territory] or of the Federal district referred 

to in document No._ The present title shall be recorded in the 

proper registry office of the place where the concession is situated, and 
gives the concessionary and his successors right for an indefinite time 
[if the concession is for a vein or lode mine], and for [so many years] 
[if the concession is for alluvion gold] to the use and enjoyment of 
the said mining property, provided he complies with the provisions 
determined by the code of mines.” 

Art. 14. A new concession of public lands shall include both the 
ownership of the surface and the mining property, and the conces¬ 
sionary shall be able to use freely, in improving and developing his 
concession, the woods, waters, and other materials which it contains 
for the work of the mines, with the single obligation of complying 
strictly with the provisions of this code. 

Art. 15. If a concessionary has need of the surface of private 
propert}^ for working his mine, he shall come to an amicable under¬ 
standing with the owner of the area; but if they can not agree, and 
the necessity is sufficiently proved, he shall proceed to expropriate 
and to call for the opinion of appraisers, in accordance with the pro¬ 
visions of the law, to value the part of the land which it is necessary 
to take and the loss and damage which may be occasioned to the owner. 

If the surface is planted with regular crops or valuable woods, the 
mining concessionary may only hope to obtain that part which is 
strictly necessary for the installation of houses, buildings, machinery, 
the labors of the mines, roads, and other indispensable works. 




224 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 16. In essentially mining districts the concessionaries and the 
inspectors of mines shall take care of the forests and prevent their 
destruction to the detriment of the mines. 

Art. 17. The cut timber, slag, and tailings of lapsed mining con¬ 
cessions form an integral part of the mine to which they belong; but 
until they have passed into the possession of a private individual they 
shall be of common use. 


Title III .—Of the requirements for the exploitation and acquisition of 

a mining concession. 

Art. 18. All persons capable of acquiring property according to 
the law of Venezuela may obtain mining Concessions, except those 
mentioned in the following article; but the concessionary, or compan} r 
which may be organized for the purpose, shall always be considered 
Venezuelans, even when one or several of the members are foreigners, 
and they shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of the 
Republic in all negotiations the subject or motive of which lies within 
the country; and they shall never allege, with respect to matters con¬ 
nected with mining concessions, any right as a foreigner, under any 
form whatever, and they shall only have the rights and the means of 
enforcing them which the laws of Venezuela grant to Venezuelans; 
and therefore foreign diplomatic agents shall not interfere in any way 
whatever in the said matters. 

Art. 19. The following persons are debarred from acquiring mines 
or holding part or interest in them: 

Mining engineers in the employ of the Deparment of Mines, and 
inspectors of mines, within the jurisdiction where they exercise said 
functions. 

Presidents of States, governors of Territories and of the Federal 
district, and revenue officers of the respective mining jurisdictions. 

Judges to whom the administration of justice in mining matters is 
submitted. 

These prohibitions do not refer to mines acquired before the appoint¬ 
ment to the said offices nor to those which said functionaries may 
acquire as heirs or legatees during the exercise of their offices. 

Art. 20. Any person desiring to make explorations for the discovery 
and acquisition of mines shall proceed in conformity with the pro 
visions of this code, under penalty of having his acts annulled besides 
the indemnities that may be demanded for loss or damage. 

Art. 21. Explorations for the discovery of mines may be made 
openly and freely within open and uncultivated lands, whether they 
be private or Government property 

Sole paragraph: No explorations shall be made within the court¬ 
yards, gardens, orchards, enclosed yards of houses or dwelling houses, 


MINING CODE. 


225 


in towns or cultivated fields, except by their owners or other persons 
specially authorized b}^ them. 

Art. 22. In order to make explorations or investigations on lands 
of private persons which have been enclosed or marked out, other 
than those comprised in the foregoing article, it is necessary to have 
the permission of the owner of the soil, and if the property is joint 
property, of one of the owners. If the owner should refuse permission 
or should be absent and not have a representative within the jurisdic¬ 
tion, the party interested shall have recourse, for the purpose of 
soliciting the said permission, to the president of the State, the gov¬ 
ernor of the Territory or of the Federal District, through the first 
civil authority of the locality, who will not refuse it, provided the 
rules established by this article are complied with. 

Sole paragraph: The person interested shall state in the application 
his given name, his surname, and the place of his domicile and that of 
the proprietor and the situation of the land where he is going to make 
the exploration, and shall add to the application a responsible bond for 
pa} T ment of the damages and loss which may be occasioned in the 
exploration or assay, according to the opinion of experts, if no agree¬ 
ment is arrived at between the interested parties. 

Art. 23. In mining concessions, whether they are or are not in 
exploitation, no work can be executed for discovering mines except 
with the special permission of the cessionary. 

Sole paragraph: The prohibition established in this article shall not 
include the right to the roads or rights of way which another mine or 
digging, whether in exploitation or not, may be entitled to establish 
or which exist in the concessions for facilitating the exploitation. 

Art. 24. No work of exploration or other mining work shall be 
begun at a lesser distance than twenty meters from any building, rail¬ 
road, place enclosed by walls, highway, canal, bridge, watering place 
for animals, or other public or private easement, nor at less than four 
hundred meters from fortified points, without the special permission 
of the proper authority or of the owner. 

Art. 25. Without regard to villages formed near mines in exploita¬ 
tion, the chief civil authority of the locality shall grant the necessary 
permissions to execute the works referred to in the preceding article, 
provided no serious injury is caused to the village. 

Art. 26. Any person who wishes to carry on the work of explora¬ 
tion to the exclusion of everybody else on any given lands shall solicit' 
permission in accordance with article 20, and this shall not be granted 
except for an extent of land of three hundred hectares, more or less, 
and for a specified time, which shall not exceed four months, at 
the end of which the said permission shall be declared lapsed. 

When the permit applied for be for public lands it shall be requested 
from the Federal Executive, and the permit shall state the boundaries 


4a—04-15 



226 


VENEZUELA. 


of the lands and the term granted for the exploration, to the exclusion 
of any other person or company. 

Art. 27. When the exploration has been finished, if the inter¬ 
ested party has discovered any one of the minerals which have been 
declared in this code to constitute mines, he shall take two samples 
from the vein, layer, or bed, which shall not weigh less than four 
ounces each, and if the ore is of alluvion gold, from any kind of 
deposit, ten grains, and shall deliver them in presence of two wit¬ 
nesses to the principal civil authority of the municipality or parish of 
the jurisdiction in which the mine is situated. 

When the samples have been delivered he shall thereupon state 
before the two witnesses the class of ore and deposit which he believes 
he has discovered, and that the samples have been taken from the site 
of the discovery, which must be determined by its boundaries and its 
approximate area, mentioning, furthermore, the nearest known points 
of reference and the names of the adjoining holders, if- there are any. 
The declaration referred to in this article must be made by the inter¬ 
ested party or his representative, on paper bearing a seal of the class 
on which applications and petitions should be made, according to the 
respective law of the State. 

Art. 28. The chief officer of the municipality or parish shall there¬ 
upon—without excuse or pretext being admitted, under penalty of 
being dismissed from his employment, of suffering the imposition of 
a fine of from one thousand to four thousand bolivars, and the pay¬ 
ment of the loss and damage which may be caused to the interested 
party, except in the event of superior force or accident duly proved, 
and in that case the commissary-general of the place, who, if necessary, 
shall appoint a secretary for the occasion—record in the proper book 
in the presence of the interested party and the two witnesses a minute 
as in the Form No. 1. 

Notices shall immediately thereafter be posted in the most public 
places of the municipality or parish* by order of the civil chief, to 
the effect shown by Form No. 2. 

Art. 29. The local authority shall record the minute referred to in 
the preceding article in the book set apart for that purpose, and shall 
deliver an original copy of it to the interested party, signed by the 
said authority and his secretary, the witnesses, and the interested 
party, and shall transmit a certified copy of the minute to the chief 
officer of tho respective superior district of the municipality or parish 
and to the president of the State or the governor of the Territory or 
of the Federal District, enclosing one of the samples which the inter¬ 
ested party or discoverer had delivered. They shall be remitted by 
post in a registered envelope, or by special messenger if the interested 
party pays the expenses incurred. This special messenger shall return 
with the receipts, and he shall deliver them to the proper person. 


MINING CODE. 


227 


Art. 30 . As soon as the civil chief of the district to whose jurisdic¬ 
tion the municipality or parish belongs in which the discovery and 
denunciation of the mine has been made, receives the copy of the 
respective minute, he shall post in his office and in the most public 
places of the town, during the term of fort} r days, bulletins similar to 
those provided in the preceding article; and lie shall publish the said 
minute in the official newspapers of the district, if there are any, or in 
those of the nearest place, or in the newspaper of largest circulation 
of the locality or of the nearest locality, four times at the least within 
the term of thirty days from the date of the denunciation; and he 
shall add to the record a copy of each publication. Without loss of 
time the chief of the district shall in turn transmit to the president 
of the State or the governor of the Territory or of the Federal 
District, under registered cover, an exact copy of the denunciation 
proceedings. 

Art. 31. The chief officer of the District, like the president of the 
State, or the governor of the Territory or of the Federal District, 
shall cause the said minute to be copied in the register of mines and 
shall acknowledge receipt with the least possible delay, under certified 
cover, to the authority who has transmitted it, and shall advise the 
interested party. 

Art. 32. At the expiration of the forty days, as established by 
article 30, and within the next fifteen days, the denouncer shall address 
a requisition to the president of the State, or the governor of the 
Territory or of the Federal District, asking that provisional possession 
of the mine be given to him. 

Sole paragraph .—The foregoing requisition shall contain the name, 
surname, and place of domicile of the petitioner, the character in 
which it is presented, the date of the denunciation before the civil 
chief of the municipality or parish, the class of mine which is asked 
for and its name, the boundaries of the land where it is situated, the 
number of hectares or the length of the sides of the square which is 
desired, and all the other facts and particulars which should be 
necessary to clearly define the concession that is being requested. 

Art. 33. On the president of the State, or the governor of the Ter¬ 
ritory or of the Federal District, receiving the petition referred to in 
the preceding article, he shall acknowledge receipt to the interested 
party; and if it appear that the requisites established by the present 
law have been complied with and that the lapse of forty days has 
expired, which is referred to in article 30, and that there has been no 
justifiable opposition, he shall order the civil chief of the District where 
the mine is situated to proceed within the term of eight days to put the 
interested party in provisional possession of it. 

Art. 34. The chief officer of the District on receiving the order from 
the president of the State, or the governor of the Territory, or of the 


228 


VENEZUELA. 


Federal District, shall fix, allowing three days to intervene, the clay 
and hour at which the civil chief of the municipality or parish and 
other persons who should be present at the giving of possession, should 
repair to the spot where the mine is situated, and with the least possi¬ 
ble delay shall communicate it to the chief of the municipality or 
parish, and through him to the curator of mines, if there is one, to 
the interested party, to two experts appointed by the same chief officer 
of the District, and to the contiguous holders, and he shall decree at this 
very act and at the same time order the delivery of possession of the 
said mining concession to the interested party or his representative. 
(Circular form number 3.) 

The contiguous holders shall be notified by summons in which men- 
tion shall be made of the number of hectares, the boundaries, the name 
of the denouncer, and the day and hour fixed. The contiguous holders 
shall sign at the foot of the summons, or shall cause their signatures 
to be affixed if they can not write, and the summons shall be added to 
the record of the case. If the contiguous holders refuse to sign the 
summons and do not attend, and do not cause themselves to be repre¬ 
sented in spite of the publications made in the official or other news¬ 
papers, on those circumstances being proved by trustworthy witnesses, 
they shall not allege any right with respect to the taking of possession, 
at which they will be considered as having been present. 

Sole paragraph .—The chiefs of districts are authorized to appoint, 
incidentally, the curator of mines, incase the Federal Executive shall 
not have appointed a curator of mines for the locality. 

Art. 35. The chief officer of the municipality or parish shall be 
under the obligation to cause the execution of the said summons men¬ 
tioned in the preceding article, so that the persons summoned may 
attend on the day fixed, at the place of the discovery of the mine. 

If, through negligence or malice, the chief officer of the locality or 
parish should fail to comply with the provisions of this article, he shall 
be fined one thousand bolivars and be suspended from his office by the 
civil chief of the District. 

Art. 36. If the chief officer of the municipality or parish or the 
curator of mines should meet any justifiable legal impediment which 
should hinder the execution of the order of the chief officer of the 
District for giving possession of the denounced mine, he must duly 
communicate it to the chief officer of the District in order that the 
latter should appoint substitutes who shall perform the functions at 
that act. 

Sole paragraph .—The said functionaries are responsible for any 
damage suffered by the interested party in consequence of delay in 
the due fulfillment of the provisions of this law in the acquirement of 
the right of possession of a mine. 

Art. 37. The chief officers of districts are authorized, in cases of 


Handbook of Venezuela 



PORT OF GUANTA. 












MINING CODE. 


229 


excuse through physical impediments or other legal causes, to appoint 
as temporary substitutes persons to assist at the taking of provisional 
possession of a mine, in the cases in which all the legal formalities 
have been observed. He may also appoint a secretary ad interim in 
case the holder of that office can not attend on that occasion. 

Art. 38. The chief officer of the respective municipality or parish, 
the curator of mines, the interested party, the two experts named, and 
the contiguous holders, if there are any, being assembled and installed 
on the site where the discovery was made, shall proceed to the giving 
of possession in the following manner: The chief officer of the munic¬ 
ipality or parish, accompanied by the two experts, shall mark out the 
boundaries and shall determine the number of hectars or the length 

o 

of each side of the square which the interested party has asked for, in 
order to tile his mining concession; at each angle he shall cause a 
wooden post to be set up, as established in the respective article of this 
code, and shall designate the land of the concession in one lot, where 
the interested party should prefer it. Before executing this work, 
the mining experts shall accompany the interested party and they shall 
cause samples to be taken from the vein, placer, bed, or deposit at 
the place where the interested party took those presented, in order 
that it should be made to appear, in the minute hereinafter mentioned, 
whether from the examination and comparison which have been made 
of them it is clearly proved that minerals similar or identical to those 
delivered by the interested party are found there, and whether, there¬ 
fore, the latter have been taken from that place; they shall also set 
out in the said minute whether the approximate number of hectares 
or the length of each side of the square which was asked for is well 
determined, and whether the posts mentioned in this law are well fixed. 
This done, the chief officer of the municipality or parish shall proceed 
without further delay to draw up the minute of possession and to com¬ 
ply with the provisions of this law, forming a record of the acts of pro¬ 
ceedings which record shall be written on sealed paper of said State 
of the corresponding class. (Form for the act of possession No. 4.) 

Art. 39. The chief officer of the municipality or parish, on pos¬ 
session having been given, shall immediately transmit, under registered 
cover, through the post-office, or by express, at the cost of the inter¬ 
ested party if he should consent, a certified copy of the minute of pos¬ 
session to the chief officer of the district and to the president of the 
State, or the governor of the Territory, or of the Federal district, who 
shall immediately acknowledge receipt, and both the chief officer of the 
municipality or parish and the other said authorities shall each on his 
own account cause to be entered in the proper book for registry of 
mines the minute of this possession in the following terms: 

I hereby declare that I have this-day of - received from 




230 


VENEZUELA. 


the chief officer of the municipality or parish (names) a certified copy 
by which provisional possession was given to the person or corn- 

pan} 7 -of a mine (name), which is of such a mineral and which is 

situated in the municipality or parish-at the place called- 


with the following- boundaries 


that the concessional chose so 


many hectares, or a square with so many meters on each side, and the 
president of the State, the governor of the Territory or of the Federal 
district, or the chief officer of the district, signs. 

Art. 40. The president of the State, the governor of the territory, 
or of the Federal district in view of the record which he shall receive 
of the minute of possession, mentioned in the foregoing article, and 
finding that the proceedings have been carried out in conformity with 
the provisions of this code, shall deliver to the interested party, within 
the following 30 days after having been given provisional possession, a 
provisional title of the concession for one year, which shall be engrossed 
on sealed paper of the highest value used in the respective State, dis¬ 
trict, or Federal Territory, and it shall give the concessionary the right 
to explore the mine as he should think proper; to cause a topograph¬ 
ical plan to be drawn up corresponding to a scale of one millimeter of 
2^ meters (1:2500) of the mining concession in conformity with the pro¬ 
visions of this law. The plan of the concession, whose circumference 
shall be determined by lines and right angles, shall set out its situation, 
boundaries, extent, and nature of the land, and the situation, direction, 
and nature of the vein, bed or layer of the ore, and the engineer or land 
surveyor who makes the plan shall certify the existence of the mineral 
deposit and shall specify the spot where it exists. And for this pur¬ 
pose, the concession having been measured and the plan verified by the 
curator of mines and by an engineer or land surveyor, the interested 
party shall transmit the provisional title, the plan of the concession in 
triplicate, and a copy of the respective record to the Fomento depart¬ 
ment in order to obtain from the President of the Republic the definite 
title deed of the mining concession with all the rights and prerogatives 
which the present law grants him. The said title shall be issued within 
the term of thirty days if the record, the plan, and the provisional 
title have been made in conformity with the provisions of the present 
code. If any error should be observed it shall be duly noted and the 
record and plan returned to the interested party in order that he 
should have it rectified within the term of sixty days. If the interested 
party should rectify the said errors the definite title shall be granted 
within fifteen days after having filed the new application. 

Art. 41. The president of the State, the governor of the Territory 
or of the Federal district, shall grant the provisional title mentioned 
in the preceding article in the following terms (Form No. 5). 

Art. 42. The president of the State or the governor of the Territory 






MINING CODE. 


231 


or of the Federal district, respectively, shall immediately after issu¬ 
ing a provisional title transmit a certified copy of it to the Fomento 
department. 

Art. 43. The formalities for giving possession of mines shall be 
effected at the cost of the interested party, who must furnish the chief 
officer of the municipality or parish, his secretary, the curator of 
mines, and the two experts who have to intervene in the matter with 
the sustenance and mounts necessary to take them to the site of the 
mine. 

They must also pay by way of fees to each of the said four func¬ 
tionaries, the civil chief, the secretary, and the two experts, 20 boli¬ 
vars for the formalities of giving possession of said concession. 

In the said formalities shall be considered as included the approxi¬ 
mate boundaries established in each concession, but if the said formal¬ 
ities should be annulled through any omission imputable to the func¬ 
tionaries or the experts who should assist therein, they shall repeat the 
said formalities without cost, and if it is impossible to repeat them, 
they shall return to the interested party the fees they had received 
except in case of superior force, which fact shall be legally proved. 

All the steps and formalities for the acquisition of mines, with the 
exception of the provisional title, shall be engrossed on sealed paper 
of the lowest class established by the respective law of the State; and 
the legal corresponding stamps shall also be obliterated thereon. 

Sole paragraph: One and the same person may obtain several 
concessions. 


Form No. 1. 

Municipality or parish (name) of the district (name) of the State or 

Territory (name) or of the Federal district. 

I, N. N., the principal civil authority of this locality, make known 

that this-day of-, at (hour) citizen X. X. (or citizens or corn- 

pan}^, adult, of (name of domicile) and accompanied by the witness 
N. N. and N. N., residents of this municipality or parish, who certify 
and declare that citizen (the petitioner or his representative or con¬ 
stituent) with (or without) permission for his exploration, discovered 
a mine, in accordance with law, of which he delivers and deposits in 

this department under numbers - the respective samples of the 

vein or lode, or of alluvion gold, which seem to contain such a mineral; 
that these samples were taken from such a place, within the jurisdic¬ 
tion of this municipality or parish, bounded as follows-and it 

contains so many hectares (if it is a vein or lode) or a square of so many 
meters to the side (if it is alluvion gold) more or less, which he elects, 
and, therefore, the legal denunciation of the land for the provisional 
title of the said mine, to which the discoverer gives the name such and 






232 


VENEZUELA. 


the provisions prescribed by the Code on the matter are hereby com¬ 
plied with for all legal purposes, and they sign. 

The local authority: 

The interested party: 

Witness: 

Witness: 

The Secretary: 

Note. —It* the denouncer should not know how to write, some one 
shall sign at his request. 


Form No. 2. 

This-day of-at (hour) appeared before me citizen N. N., 

accompanied by the witnesses N. N. and N. N., denouncing the dis¬ 
covery of a free mine, of such a mineral at such a site, with the fol¬ 
lowing limits: 

For the corresponding effects this notice is posted for the space of 
forty days. 

The civil chief: 

The secretary: 


Form No. 3. 

[Circular.] 

I, X. X., chief officer of the district,-in execution of superior 

orders, and after full compliance with the provisions of the Code 
of Mines for the denunciation and delivery of provisional possession 
of the mine [name] denounced by citizen N. N. [or his legal representa¬ 
tive], direct } T ou to repair, together with j 7 our secretary, citizen N. N., 
curator of mines, and citizens [A and B] whom I have named experts, 
to the place where the mine is situated, after the due summons of the 
contiguous owners, if there are any, within the peremptory term of 
eight da} T s, from the date on which you receive this despatch; and for 
that purpose I direct you to provide everything necessary to assist 
the persons named, and to comply with all the provisions of the law 
for this giving of possession, holding } T ou responsible for failure to 
comply with what has been ordered. 

[Date.] 

The civil chief: 





















MINING CODE. 


233 


Form No. 4. 

[For the provisional giving of possession.] 

I, N. N., chief officer of the municipality or parish-, accom¬ 

panied by his secretary, by N. N., curator of mines, by the two citizens 
N. N., appointed experts for this purpose, and by citizen N. N., who 
has applied according to the formalities prescribed by the law, for the 
proyisional possession of this mine [name] and with the assistance of 
the contiguous owners [if they are present, and if they are not the 
fact shall be stated] solemnly declare in the name of the law and by 
order of the president of the State, or the governor of the Territory, 
or of the Federal district, that all legal requisites having been com¬ 
plied with, I put citizen- [or company] in proyisional possession, 

for the term of one year, of the mine which he has discovered and 

which is comprised within the boundaries-and that at every 

angle which marks the limits of the mining concession a wooden post 
has been fixed, in accordance with article 38 of the Code of Mines; 
that the interested party has chosen so many hectares of land, or a 
square of so many meters long on each side, more or less; that the 
samples which the interested party delivered on making the respective 
denunciation of this mine have been compared, and are of the same 
class and condition as those found on this site; and that, finally, there 
having been no legal opposition, citizen N. N. is declared to be in 
peaceable provisional possession of the said mine for all legal purposes. 

Signed in triplicate. 

[Date.] 

The civil chief of the municipality or parish: 

The secretary: 

The interested party: 

The curator of mines: 

The experts and the contiguous owners, if there are any. 


✓ Form No. 5. 

I, N. N., president of the State, or the governor of such a Territory, 
or of the Federal district, make known: 

That citizen N. N. has discovered a mine of such a mineral, an exploit¬ 
able matter, according to the Code of Mines now in force, denounced 
under such a name, situated in such a jurisdiction of the municipality 
or parish [name], of the district [name]; and that having applied to 
this department and denounced his discovery, with all the circum¬ 
stances which determine the same, and all legal requisites having been 
complied with, on view of the experts’ report of the giving of provi- 












234 


VENEZUELA. 


sional possession referred to in Chap. Ill, article 38, of the Code of 
Mines now in force, I hereby grant a provisional title to the discoverer, 
N.N., which gives him a right to the said mine which is comprised 
within the following boundaries:-. 

The present title gives the discoverer the rights referred to in the 
Code of Mines now in force, for the term of one year, from the date 
on which he was given provisional possession of the concession in 
accordance with the law, and, furthermore, a perfect right to appear 
before the citizen President of the Republic, through the proper 
department, and in accordance with the provisions of this code, 
and with the plan of the said mining concession, made by engineers or 
land surveyors, and to solicit and receive the definitive title which 
gives him perfect possession of the said mining property in accordance 
with the provisions of the law. 

Given at the palace of the government of the State or Territory 
[name] or of the Federal district at-. 


Title IV. — Of opposite on. 

Alt. -Id. It is understood by first denouncer of a mine, and the one 
who shall have indisputable right to obtain ownership of the same, 
the first person who makes the denunciation and delivers the samples 
mentioned in this code with the formalities prescribed therein, except 
in case of a contrary legal decision. In case of dispute at the moment 
of the denunciation the samples shall be compared and their identity 
proved by examining them with those of the place from where the} 7 may 
have been taken, in the same vein, bed, or deposit of alluvion gold, 
with respect to its quality and conditions, making assays and experi¬ 
ments with them. 

Alt. 45. Opposition may be made verbally on the discoverer appear¬ 
ing and making the denunciation, or in writing, on any day before that 
appointed for the giving of possession. In the first case, the authority 
before whom the denunciation is made shall make an entry in the 
register, which he shall keep for that purpose, and which the public 
functionary and the parties shall sign together. 

Akt. 40. The document having been filed or an entry of the opposi¬ 
tion having been made, a lapse of fifteen days from the following day 
shall be allowed for the parties to show before the curator of mines or 
the functionary who occupies his place, who has the best right, and 
the issue must.be decided on the last day. 

The party who should not be satisfied with that decision may appeal 
within the term of five days to the technical inspector, who shall decide 
within the term of fifteen days after receiving the minutes; and if one of 
the parties should still remain dissatisfied, he may appeal as a last 
resort to the minister of fomento; but in no case shall the proceedings 
established by this code for the acquisition of mines be suspended, and, 





MINING CODE. 


‘235 


finally, lie who obtains the last favorable judgment, in case of appeal 
from the first, shall be the owner of the discovery. 

If the opposition does not refer to the priority of discovery, but 
should be based on already acquired rights of another nature, the party 
who believes himself to have been injured by the decision in the said 
administrative proceedings may allege his rights in an ordinary suit 
before the courts. 

Art. 47. Owners of contiguous mines may raise opposition at the 
time of the giving of provisional possession when the whole or part of 
their mines is included in the measurement; but in this case the suit 
to be brought is one of limits and shall be proved and decided accord¬ 
ing to the provisions of the civil procedure, and the giving of posses¬ 
sion shall be suspended. 

Sole paragraph. In the case to which this article refers the parties 
having been summoned to appear lief ore the competent judge, the 
opposing party shall within eight days and with the least possible 
delay formulate his application for demarcation. 


Title V.— Of the definitive title. 

Art. 48. The minister of fomento, on view of the provisional title 
issued by the president of the State or the governor of the Territory 
or of the Federal District of the record and respective plans of the 
concession, and on finding that the provisions of the present code have 
been complied with, shall grant the definitive title on national stamped 
paper of one hundred bolivars, bearing revenue stamps for the value 
of forty bolivars. 

This title shall bear the signature of the President of the Republic, 
shall be sealed with the seal of the Federal Executive, and counter¬ 
signed by the minister of fomento, and shall be recorded in the corre- 
sponding registry. 

Art. 49. The definitive title having been issued the minister of 
fomento shall order two certified copies thereof to be made, adding to 
each of them a copy of the respective plan of the concession, of which 
one shall remain in the archives of the department and the other shall 
be transmitted to the department of the technical inspector of mines 
of the Republic. The original title shall be delivered to the interested 
party, together with the third cop} 7 of the plan, which shall bear a cer¬ 
tificate of the corresponding direction, in which it shall be stated that 
it was the one delivered when application was made for the definitive 
title. • 

Art. 50. All the expenses for sealed paper and stamps for obtain¬ 
ing the provisional and definitive titles, and the copies ordered to be 
made in the preceding article, shall be borne by the interested party. 

Art. 51. The definitive title shall be registered at the registry 
office of the jurisdiction of the mining concession. 


236 


VENEZUELA. 


Title VI .—Obligations of the grantees. 


Art. 52. All companies to be formed for the working of mines are 
civil firms and are subject to the civil jurisdiction of the Republic. 

Art. 53. Limited companies, whether with unlimited liability or 
joint stock, or incorporated partnerships, which shall be formed for 
the purpose of exploiting a mining concession, shall be established in 
accordance with the provisions of the code of commerce, but shall 
not for this reason lose their civil character. 

Art. 54. Natives domiciled abroad who wish to exploit the claims 
referred to in this law must, before beginning their work, legally 
appoint an agent or constituted attorney Avith all the necessary pow¬ 
ers, who shall represent them and shall be responsible directly for the 
obligations they may contract with the country. The power of attor¬ 
ney of the agent shall always be registered at the office of the public 
registry, at the respecth^e record of the tribunal of commerce, and 
be published in full in the official or any other newspaper within the 
jurisdiction of the tribunal of commerce to Avhich the registry belongs. 

Art. 55. The properties, rights, and shares which natives domiciled 
abroad have in the Republic shall be direct^ responsible for the 
operations and transactions which their agents in Venezuela should 
effect in the management of the same. 


Art. 56. All persons who may have furnished funds for the explo¬ 
ration or discovery of mines, and also for the work, machinery, and 
construction of buildings, have a mortgage over the concession. In 
order that this mortgage should be effectAe the document should be 
registered in the registiy office of the district, setting forth the exact 
amount of such advances and the purpose or object for which they 
were employed. 

Art. 57. The concessionaries must establish on the land, at their 
expense, tfie boundaries of their concessions, within the six months 
following the issue of the provisional title. 

The boundaries of the concessions must be marked at the angles with 
masonry posts or stakes of heart wood of sixty-five centimeters in cir¬ 
cumference, at least, and each post must bear the initials of the grantee. 

Art. 58. As soon as the posts or logs referred to in the preceding 
article have been set up the concessionaries shall give notice to the 
principal civil authority of the locality, or to the curator of mines in 
order that they may ascertain whether the provisions of the said 
article have been complied with, and transmit a report of the said 
inspection to the proper person. 

Art. 59. On the owner of a concession observing that a post or stake 
is wanting he should immediately replace it, and every year he shall 
clear of weeds the land marks which form the circumference of the 
concession. 


MINING CODE. 


237 


Art. 60. All concessionaries who fail to comply with the provisions 
of the preceding articles shall pay a line of live hundred bolivars, 
which shall be collected by the proper receiving officer immediately 
after notice of the infraction is given by the curator of mines. The 
former, as well as the latter, shall duly advise the minister of fomento 
what has been effected in the matter. 

Art. 61. Within the lapse of two years, to be counted from the day 
on wffiich the definitive title is issued, the concessionary shall put the 
mine in exploitation, and shall prove that circumstance before the 
department of fomento, by means of a certificate to be issued by the 
curator of mines. If the two years shall have elapsed and the exploi¬ 
tation of the mine shall not have been begun, the concessionary shall 
pa}^ to the National Government, by way of fine, the sum of five thou¬ 
sand bolivars, which shall give him the right to a prorogation of two 
years, which shall be counted from the expiration of the first two. 
Should this fine not be paid within the thirty days following the expi¬ 
ration of the first two years, the Federal Executive, through the 
department of fomento, shall declare the concession lapsed, and the 
resolution to be passed on the subject shall be published in the Official 
Gazette. 

If, during the prorogation for two years, which the interested party 
may obtain by the payment of the fine, the mine shall not be put into 
exploitation, the Federal Executive shall declare the concession lapsed. 

In order that a mine should be considered to be in exploitation, it is 
required that at least ten workmen should be employed daily in 
working it. 

If the work of exploiting a mining concession should be suspended 
for the space of one consecutive year, or in lapses of more than one 
month, which together represent the term of a year, the concession 
shall likewise lapse, and this shall be declared in the manner provided 
in the first part of this article. 

For the lapses referred to in this article, a term equal to that lost 
through superior force or accident duly proved, shall be allowed. 

Art. 62. The lapse of the mining concession having been declared, 
in accordance with the provisions of the preceding article, the minister 
of fomento shall cause a marginal note to this effect to be made in the 
book in which the definitive titles are recorded, and, with the same 
object, he shall give notice thereof to the registrar in whose office the 
title is recorded. A like communication shall be made to the president 
of the State, or the governor of the Territory, or of the Federal Dis¬ 
trict, within whose jurisdiction the mine is situated. 

Art. 63. Besides the cases of lapse provided for in this section, all 
persons who have asked for a mining concession shall ipso jure lose 
the right to obtain the provisional or the definitive title, as the case 
may be: 


238 


VENEZUELA. 


1st. If the fifteen days mentioned in article 32 should expire and 
the discoverer of the mine or his concessionary fails to address to the 
president of the State, or the governor of the Territory, or of the 
Federal District an application for provisional possession. 

2d. If thirty da} T s should elapse after the giving of provisional pos¬ 
session and the interested party fails to ask for the provisional title 
pursuant to article 40. 

3d. If the one year mentioned in article 40 should elapse and the 
interested party fail to apply to the department of fomento for the 
definitive title; and 

4th. If the interested party should not within the lapse appointed by 
article 40 rectify the errors which the department may find in the 
record and the plan of the concession, and if he should not, in the said 
case obtain the definitive title within the term provided in the final 
part of the said article. 

The loss of the rights, the subject-matter of this article, shall be 
effected without any special resolution of the department of fomento. 

Sole paragraph: Any mining concessions which for the space of 
six months shall not have paid the taxes referred to in Title X of this 
code are hereby declared to be legally and effectively lapsed. The 
minister of fomento shall issue the proper declaration, which shall be 
published in the Official Gazette. 

Art. 64. All lapsed concessions and rights lost pursuant to this 
title may be acquired anew by the orignal concessionary, provided the 
provisions of this code be complied with and the petitioner pays to the 
National Government the sum of five thousand bolivars. New conces¬ 
sionaries of lapsed concessions shall not sell to the original conces¬ 
sionary or to his heirs the lapsed concessions they may have obtained. 

Title VII .—Of the manner of organizing the registers of m ines ami 

the public offices . 


Art. 65. The chief officer of the municipality or parish shall keep a 
book to inscribe the denunciations made before him, pursuant to pro¬ 
visions of article 27. 

This book shall be bound and so arranged that it shall not be easy 
either to add to it or remove from it one or more leaves, and it shall 
be paged, and every page shall be signed by the president of the State, 
or the governor of the Territory, or of the Federal District, who shall 
furthermore place on the first page of each book a note signed by 
them, stating the number of folios which it contains and that each has 
been signed by them. 

Art. 66. The inscription mentioned in the preceding article shall be 
made in the following form: 

The number which corresponds to the statement shall be placed first, 
commencing with one and continuing in an ascending order. 


MINING CODE. 


239 


Then the date shall be written, setting* out the hour, all in letters. 

Then the corresponding* statement shall be written, expressing the 
circumstances to which article 27 refers, according to the indications 
which the denouncer shall make. 

No erasure, amendment, or interlineations shall be made. If any 
error should be committed it shall be corrected at the foot by means 
of a note in which the wrong word or phrase shall be expressed and 
the form in which it should be put. 

Lastily, the note shall be signed by the chief officer of the munici¬ 
pality or parish, by the denouncer, the two witnesses, and the secre¬ 
tary. If the denouncer does not know how to sign, this shall be men¬ 
tioned, stating that the note has been read by the person he may have 
chosen to sign at his request. 

No witnesses shall be admitted who can not write. 

Art. 67. Immediately on the making of the denunciation mentioned 
in article 27, the note referred to in the preceding article shall be 
made, and immediately the said note shall have been legally authorized, 
the original copy and the certified copies mentioned in article 29 shall 
be issued, delivering the original to the denouncer and transmitting a 
copy of the copies to the civil officer of the respective district, and 
another to the president of the State or the governor of the Territory 
or of the Federal District for all legal purposes. 

Art. 68. The date of the respective entry in the book mentioned 
shall be considered as the date of the discovery of the mine, and shall 
serve as a point of departure for enforcing the rights which are 
acquired by virtue of such discovery, except in case of a contrary 
legal decision. 

Art. 69. The entries made in the book mentioned in article 65 are 
presumed to be authentic, unless they contain alterations, interlinea¬ 
tions, or erasures which alter the sense of the document such as it 
appears in the copy sent to the interested party. 

But in any case proofs shall be admitted against this presumption, 
and also to justify the total or partial falsification of the record. But 
this shall not delay or disturb the course of the discovery and provi¬ 
sional possession of it, or of the denunciation, since in the end he 
shall be responsible for the costs, loss, and damage who was guilty of 
the error or obstacle which occasioned them. 


Title YIII. — Placers . 

Art. 70. By placers (barrancos) is understood a solid ten meters 
long by ten wide and of indefinite depth, for the exploitation of allu¬ 
vion gold, in whatever kind of bed or deposit it may be. 

Art. 71. In the prospecting of mines by the placer system of shafts 
for the exploitation of alluvion gold no work shall be undertaken in 
the direction of a discovered vein, whether in exploitation or not, nor 


240 


VENEZUELA. 


within the distance of one hundred meters on either side of it; that is 
to say, that the owner of the vein has the right to keep and retain 
as his property a belt of two hundred meters wide in the centre of 
which the vein is being worked. 

Art. 72. The exploitation referred to in the preceding article has 
special reference to the washing of alluvion gold in troughs; and as in 
the course of this work loose stones, fragments of veins, and other 
exploitable ore, or such as can be broken up or crushed by means of a 
mortar or by hand are often encountered, the owner of the digging has 
the right to the enjoyment of all those classes of ore with the excep¬ 
tion of well-defined veins, which can not be acquired except in pursu¬ 
ance of the proceedings established by this code. 

Art. 73. The system of exploration and exploitation by placers may 
be employed by every person capable of contracting, and who is 
endeavoring to discover mines in the subsoil, without any other restric¬ 
tions than those established by the present code. 

Art. 74. No work by the placer system shall be undertaken in 
towns or public roads, nor in buildings, aqueducts, tanks, plantations, 
and gardens, whether they be public or private property, it being 
understood that this prohibition is limited to a space of one hundred 
meters from the above specified places. 

Art. 75. When a deposit of alluvion gold is discovered, the curator 
of mines, accompanied by the principal civil authority of the place, 
shall go to the site of the discovery, and after an ocular inspection, in 
conformity with the provisions of the preceding article, he shall settle 
the order of the work, so that the miners should not infringe on each 
others rights, and for this purpose he shall make the proper demarca¬ 
tions by means of wooden posts, which shall enclose a superficial area 
of one hundred square meters for each placer that is to be worked. 

One and the same individual may have various placers. 

Article 12 of this code is applicable to exploitation by the placer 
system. 

Art. 76. In all work in connection with veins executed for the pur¬ 
pose of making explorations, of whatever kind it may be, with the 
exception of placers in veined mines, on lands of the nation or com¬ 
mons and on private lands, or on mining claims, the explorers shall 
be obliged to properly close the excavations which they may make, 
before abandoning them, and may be compelled thereto by the proper 
authority of the jurisdiction, and are liable to be fined and arrested 
according to the nature of the case. 


Title IX. — Water for mines. 

Art. 77. Whoever makes a denunciation as mentioned in Title III, 
article 27, acquires the right to take the water necessary for the work 
of the mine, provided the discovery is on public or national lands, 
according to the provisions established in the present title. 


MINING CODE. 


241 


Iii concessions of alluvion gold is always included the use of the 
water, without detriment to the lawfully acquired rights of third 
parties. 

Art. 78. The denouncer of the first mine which is found at any spot 
whatsoever has a preferent right to that of all subsequent discoverers 
to take the water necessary in the judgment of experts for his estab¬ 
lishment and for the persons employed thereon; and that right may 
be enforced at any time, and although the mine should not have 
been worked, provided in the latter case the concession should not 
have been declared lapsed; and although it should be necessary for the 
enforcement of such right to suspend work at a plant established at a 
subsequently discovered mine. 

Art. 79. Other discoverers shall have an equal but subordinate right 
to that of prior discoverers, and preferent to that of subsequent ones, 
observing a strict right of priorit}^. This right shall always be 
acquired on the making of the denunciation. 

Art. 80. Every denouncer of a mine has furthermore the right to 
practically utilize such waters as he wishes, provided he does not 
affect the right granted by the preceding article to those who may 
have denounced mines before the utilization of the waters, and pro¬ 
vided he needs them for the work of the mines. In the latter case 
those who denounce mines, after the partial utilization of such waters, 
have no right to take them, except in case there is an excess in the 
existing deposits and currents. 

Art. 81. On exercising the rights mentioned in the preceding arti¬ 
cles, owners of mines shall never deprive the owners of the superficial 
soil, whom they may have found there at the time of the denunciation 
or denunciations, of the water necessary for their families, animals, 
and any kind of machinery whatsoever which they have already 
mounted or have begun to mount, and for the irrigation of their 
crops; and those who should become subsequent owners of the surface 
shall have the right only to the excess of the water for the said uses. 
Nor may they hinder the free uses of the easements of aqueducts, 
which are established on lands where the mine is situated, in favor of 
a town, village, hamlet, or factory of a third party. 

Art. 82. If any dispute should arise between the owners of mines, 
some pretending that there is an excess of water in any deposit or 
current whatsoever and others affirming the contrary, the doubt shall 
be resolved by means of three experts to be appointed, one by each 
of the interested parties and the other by the civil chief officer of the 
district. 

Art. 83. When it is necessary to decide whether there is sufficient 
water in excess in any deposit or current for the use of an individual, 
the excess shall be reckoned to be what remains after making allowance 
for that belonging to the owners of the mines previously denounced. 

4a—04-16 



242 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 84. The right which is granted by articles 81 and 82 regarding 
the excess of water can not be in any way hindered b}^ the prior miners 
and persons occupied in previous industry, except for the purpose of 
extending their original establishments within the area of their con¬ 
cession or mining property. 

Art. 85. All differences which arise as to the waters between miners 
and landowners, or persons who are entitled to the enjo}^ment of an 
easement over an aqueduct, shall be settled in the form provided by 
this law. 

Art. 86. If a mine should be denounced which can not be worked 
in any other way than with the water which is used to work another 
mine, the new denouncer shall have a right to take the said water, 
provided he complies with the following requisites: 

1. That he conduct to the former mine other and sufficient water to 
work it. 

2. That he indemnify the owner of the prior mine for all damage 
which may be caused to him through the alteration of the course of the 
water, either by reason of the greater supply he must reserve, or 
through the quality of the ground through which it flows, or, finally, 
through any other circumstances. 

Art. 87. If the owner of an establishment on a higher land level 
should suspend the work at his mines, retaining his property in them, 
the miners of the subsequent establishments may use the water which 
the former may have brought, on purchasing from him the right to 
use the same, the value to be settled by experts, and he must preserve 
the supply, at his cost, in good condition, without acquiring therefor 
in any case any right of property thereon. 

In this case the owner of the upper mine also has the right to be 
indemnified by the owner of the lower mine for any damage which he 
may suffer through the use of the drain, and to be secured that indem- 
nization beforehand by judgment of the civil chief officer of the place 
where the mine is situated. 

Art. 88. The right to the waters is transferred and is lost with that 
to the mines, and, like them, again becomes common property or 
passes to him who acquires the ownership of the mines, although this 
circumstance may not be expressed in the contracts, unless the owner 
of a mine needs them for another of which he is the owner and from 
which, at the time when the sale was effected, he especially excepted 
the water. 

Art. 89. In case an owner of mines alters the course of the water 
which he has applied to his establishment for some other taken from 
a different deposit, the first becomes through that very act restored 
to its original character as common property and thereafter subject to 
the provisions of this title. 


MINING CODE. 


243 


Art. 90. In case a mining concession should lapse in accordance 
with this law, any proprietor of mines may take the water which sup¬ 
plied the lapsed mine for any other enterprise, provided he needs it, 
and a new denunciation of the said mine shall not revive the right to 
the water which supplied it, unless it is out of use at the time of the 
said denunciation. 

Art. 91. Those who acquire mines on a higher level than plants 
already mounted may make free use of the water which supplies the 
latter; provided they return to the common bed above the point at 
which the owners of lower plants take them for their service, and pro¬ 
vided the use which the owners of upper establishments make of these 
waters does not render it useless for lower enterprises. 

Art. 92. The manager of mines situated upstream who has acquired 
his property subsequently to the owners of mines situated lower down, 
and who, for the purpose of working his mines, has taken water which 
Hows to those lower down, after passing through the plant, thereby 
causing damage to the owner of such lower mines, may be obliged by 
the latter to conduct the water by a special course until it empties 
below the point where it may cause damage. 

Art. 93. If it is impossible to comply with the provisions of the 
foregoing article the contractor of superficial mines shall indemnify 
those of interior mines for the losses they may sustain, the indemnity 
being estimated, when necessary, by three experts appointed one by 
each of the interested parties and the other by the chief civil officer. 

Art. 94. In regard to the casings and indemnities to which the 
waters emplo} T ed in mines may give rise the provisions of this law 
shall be observed. 


Title X .—Taxes and privileges. 

Art. 95. Alluvion gold of any class of deposit that ma}^ be found in 
the beds of rivers and public lands can be worked freely when a con¬ 
cession has not been granted for it by the Federal Executive. Mean¬ 
while the exploitation is effected by means of troughs, this system is 
declared free of all taxes. 

Art. 96. Any mining concession for veins or lode of any kind 
whatever shall pay as mining tax 2 bolivars a year per hectar whether 
the surface belongs to the nation or to private persons, and if being 
worked it shall pay besides three per cent on the gross product of the 
mine. 

Alluvion gold mining concessions of any kind or deposit that may 
be found shall pay ten per cent on the gross product of their exploita¬ 
tion and besides a mining tax of 2 bolivars a year per hectar, whether 
the surface belongs to the nation or to private persons. 

Art. 97. The taxes to which the foregoing article refer must be 


244 


VENEZUELA. 


paid monthly and in cash at the nearest custom-house of the mining 
district in which the mine may be situated, or in any national receiving 
office when so directed by the Federal Executive. If the concession 
is situated in the Federal district the taxes shall be paid to the 
national treasury. The office in which the payment is made shall 
give a receipt in duplicate and the interested party shall remit to the 
fomento department one of those receipts in proof that the tax has 
been paid. If the interested parties do not remit the mentioned 
duplicate to said department the latter shall not consider the payments 
made. 

The curators of mines are those who represent them and, in their 
default, the first civil authority of the localitv shall enforce said taxes. 

Art. 98. The Federal Executive, taking into consideration the pro¬ 
tection to be given to mining enterprise for the development of the 
industry in the country, may exonerate from paying import duties, 
when it shall deem it advisable, on machinery, apparatus, and utensils 
that may be needed for the development of said enterprises as well as 
all explosives and accessories. The latter arc subject to the provisions 
and laws in force on the subject, and the owners of mines must con¬ 
struct powder magazines at a depth of ten meters at least, the roofs of 
which must be one meter below the surface, and must be established 
at least live hundred meters from villages or mining centers in order to 
avoid danger. The Federal Executive may also exempt from the pay¬ 
ment of duty octagonal steel for drilling. 

Art. 99. The mining concession, its surface, buildings, machinery, 
and other dependencies and annexes shall serve as a guarantee in the 
first term for the compliance of the payment of the taxes established 
in this law, and for the payment of import duties that may be incurred 
in the importations freed in conformity with the foregoing article, 
when they have not been applied to the exploitation of mines or when 
the mines have not been worked within the terms provided by the law. 


Title XI .—Terms and conditions for the working of mines. 

Art. 100. Every one of the States composing the Union, every 
Federal territory, and also the Federal district form a mining cir¬ 
cumscription, subdivided into so many mining districts as there may 
be in the State, Territory, or Federal district. 

Art. 101. The owners or managers of mines are obliged to main¬ 
tain good ventilation in the works that are effected, so that miners 
may not be asphyxiated b} r the agglomeration or retention of gases or 
miasms, or by infiltrations or accumulations of water. 

Art. 102. Concessionaries are obliged to prop the ceilings and walls 
or sides of the galleries and passages b} T means of scaffolds or walls when 
so required by the softness of the rock or the nature of the deposit. 

Art. 103. If through neglect of the owner of a mining exploitation 


Handbook of Venezuela 



BOLIVAR SQUARE, VALENCIA. 

(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 




















MINING CODE. . 245 

to keep the drainage in good order any mine belonging to some one 
else suffers damage, lie shall be obliged to repair it according to the 
estimate that may be made of it by the experts appointed, one by 
each of the parties and one by the civil chief of the locality. 

Art. 104. The ladders used in the mines, shafts, or plazas for transit 
shall be such as to insure the safety of the laborers. 

Art. 105. If the laborers have to be lowered into the mines by 
means of carts, cages, or tubs, the contractor shall employ cables of 
the first quality and use apparatus adequate to avoid accident. 

Art. 100. if in consequence of an accident in a mine death or injury 
of one or more persons has been caused, indemnity shall be paid to 
the interested parties, and in case the parties do not come to an 
agreement in regard to the amount, it shall be fixed by three experts 
appointed in the same manner as provided in article 103. 

Art. 107. Mining companies are obliged to keep their books in 
Spanish, according to the formalities established in the Code of 
Commerce. 

Title XII. — Functi onaries. 


Art. 108. There shall be in the capital of the Republic a technical 
inspector of mines, who shall establish at the Federal Government’s 
expense an office in due form containing the photographical plan, sub¬ 
terranean or mining plans, and the geological plans of the circum¬ 
scriptions or districts; a collection of all the minerals explored or 
worked, as well as the apparatus and reactives to assay minerals; 
he shall visit the demarcations of the mining districts, as they are 
being established, under obligation of making the geological and min¬ 
eral ogical chart of each one of them, with all the notes he may con¬ 
sider useful after due study of the matter. 

Whenever the Federal Executive shall consider it convenient this 
emplo} T ee shall visit the mines of the Republic that are being worked, 
and shall take a minute note of the methods employed for the subter¬ 
ranean work and of the assays of the different minerals, it being his 
duty to make a report corresponding to each conscription, its general 
state, the improvements that may be made, and the drawbacks that 
may be avoided in favor of the mining industry. While ho is in the 
employ of the Government he can not be a contractor nor acquire any 
class or rights in the mines of the Republic of whatever nature they 


may be. 

Art. 109. The technical inspector of mines shall have a special 
book, according to the provisions of this code, in which he shall keep 
a numbered record of all the mining concessions discovered, explored 
and worked; of lapsed concessions, with the names of their original 
owners and the present ones; the place in which they are situated and 
the other data relative to them. He shall likewise keep the certiiied 


246 


VENEZUELA. 


copies that may be sent to him of the title deeds issued and of the 
corresponding plans; he shall draw up the general plan of all the 
mining concessions granted in the Republic and the census of these 
properties. 

Art. 110. The director or representative of a mine shall put at the 
disposal of the technical inspector the necessary means, when he shall 
so demand it, to inspect its works. The former shall likewise submit 
the plan, the roll of miners, and other information that may serve to 
form a complete knowledge of the exploitation. 

They shall also place at the disposal of the official, which the Federal 
Executive or the curator of mines may designate, their account books 
to verify the accuracy of liquidations and monthly payments. If, 
after an examination of said books, it is proved that some enterprise 
is defrauding the public treasury, those indicted of fraud shall pay a 
tine ten times in excess of the fraud committed and shall likewise 
be placed at the disposal of the ordinary tribunals for the corre¬ 
sponding trial. 

The director or representative of the mining exploitation shall lay 
monthly before the curator of mines, and the latter shall enforce this 
disposition, a report in detail expressing: The quantity of gold pro¬ 
duced; number of tons of ore ground or worked; number of workmen 
employed and their nationality; number of tons of mineral coal 
consumed, or horsepower or hour of electric energy employed, and 
cost of light and dynamite. The curator of mines shall submit this 
report to the minister of f omen to, after having verified it with the 
books of the enterprise, so that it may be filed by the technical 
inspector and serve as a basis for the statistical service of that branch 
of national wealth, and so that it may be used also as a voucher to 
verify the accounts rendered of the payment of the tax. 

Art. 111. When, from the inspection of visit effected in a mine by 
the technical inspector, it shall appear that the lives of persons and 
security of the exploitations may be in danger for any reason, the 
said official shall direct the necessary measures.to avoid the causes of 
danger. In case of claim three or more engineers shall be heard, who 
shall be appointed by the first civil authority of the locality at the 
cost of the interested party, said official being obliged, according to 
the opinion of the greatest number of engineers he may hear, to settle 
the claim with the least possible delay. 

When the technical inspector of mines be proved to be wrong he 
shall be responsible for the damage he may have caused to the owner 
of the mine in regard to the measures he may have directed, but if 
from the report of the engineers it shall appear that there is immi¬ 
nent danger, a provisional cessation of the work will be ordered 
without regard to any claim. 


MINING CODE. 


247 


Art. 112. For the management of mines there shall be a curator of 
mines in each circumscription and in case there should be none there 
shall be appointed, for the time being*, by the first civil authority of 
the district, a competent expert in mines to enforce compliance of 
this law. 

Art. 113. The technical inspector of ntines and the curator of mines 
shall assist likewise in the demarcation of concessions of lots when 
there should be reason to doubt the accuracy of its boundries, and in 
all those acts and claims of the miners which may affect the ownership 
of the nation over the mines and its direct interest in their working. 

Art. 114. To be a technical inspector of mines it is required to be a 
graduate engineer and a chemist. To be curator of mines it is required 
to be of age and to have practical knowledge, which shall be proved 
before the technical inspector of mines. 

The appointments of technical inspector of mines and curator of 
mines are made by the executive power and through the minister of 
fomento. The technical inspector of mines is under the immediate 
orders of said departments. He shall reside in the capital of the 
Republic and shall draw the salary that may be assigned to him in the 
budget law, his transportation being paid by the federal executive. 

Art. 115. The curator of mines shall be paid 300 bolivars a month 
and is privileged to demand the following fees: 

To assist in the act of taking provisional possession of each mine, 
100 bolivars; to take cognizance and pass sentence in a judgment of 
opposition, 150 bolivars; to verify on the ground the plan of each con¬ 
cession and sign three copies of it, 60 bolivars; to assist in the 
demarcation of the mine and in all those acts and claims of said con¬ 
cessions that may affect the rights of the nation as well as those of pri¬ 
vate parties, 100 bolivars; to certify that a mine is in exploitation, 100 
bolivars; to intervene in the controversies that may arise between 
workmen and owners of mines and to guard the interests of both par¬ 
ties, 10 bolivars a day, while his intervention in the matter is required. 

Besides, for every act in which the curator of mines has to inter¬ 
vene his board and transportation shall be given him. 

Art. 116. In cases of difficulties with the workmen, the curator of 
mines shall inquire into the causes of them, and if he can not settle 
them amicably, shall limit his action to guarding the interest of both 
parties, and when it becomes necessary, for the maintenance of public 
order in the mine and its neighborhood, he shall request aid from the 
nearest civil authority which shall give it to him. 

Art. 117. The Federal Executive shall establish in the capital of the 
Republic a mining school, in which all matters relating to the branch 
shall be taught, in order to turn out good mining engineers who shall 
give efficient aid to the development of this industry 


248 




VENEZUELA. 


Tille XIII.-— The ‘police of the mines. 

Art. 118. In the mining districts the police, depending upon the 
authorities of the State, Territory or Federal District, shall be 
required to give immediate aid to the technical inspector and curator 
of mines every time they desire it for the performance and fulfilment 
of their duties. 

As a general rule mines must be exploited in conformity with the 
provisions of the industry, so that they may guarantee the life of the 
miners, adhering in each special case to the regulations that may be 
established by the superintendency, with due regard to the following: 

(1) Every mine that is worked must have the necessary communi¬ 
cation with the exterior for the ventilation and extraction of the ore 
as well as for easy access and exit for workmen. 

(2) When the ingress and egress has to be effected through a ver¬ 
tical shaft, the latter must be divided into floors every five meters, 
which shall be put in communication by means of stairs, so that at the 
foot of each there is a platform to prevent a person from falling beyond 
one landing. 

(3) When the work is being carried on in loose ground the stairs 
must be made secure with timber, and must be inspected from time to 
time and replaced when they are not sufficiently solid. 

(4) Natural pillars which support a mine can not be removed unless 
they are replaced by artificial ones capable of substituting the natural 
ones. 

In works of exploitation of mines the day of twenty-four hours shall 
be divided into three watches, thus: From 6 a. m. to 2 p. m., from 2 
p. in. to 10 p. m., and from 10 p. m. to 6 a. m., employing in each of 
those watches a sufficient number of workmen, foremen, and directors, 
who must be men, and under no circumstances women or children less 
than fifteen years of age. 

Art. 119. Miners are prohibited to place drills or explosives in rock, 
ore holes, or cavities which have been previously charged or exploded. 

Miners are prohibited to work in galleries or levels, tunnels or exca¬ 
vations, on loose grounds and stoppings, and to clean their respective 
places b} T throwing the ore to a lower level without notifying those 
beneath them. 

The ordinance signals in a mine to announce that a tub or car is to 
pass, bring up or lower ore, or to announce that it is ascending or 
lowering a person, or that any accident has happened in the mine, 
shall be signaled by a bell placed in the upper part of the shaft by 
means of a wire passing to the different platforms placed in the transit 
workings. These signals are: 1 bell denotes that the tub or car must 
stop, 2 bells mean that something is being lowered, 3 bells for ascend¬ 
ing, 4 bells signify that the ascent or descent must be effected with 


MINING CODE. 


249 


care, and five bells tell of a serious accident having occurred in the 
mine. 

An} r one who is not the owner, director, or workman, unless with a 
special permit, shall be absolutely prohibited from entering or descend¬ 
ing to the galleries or excavations and other mining labors as well as 
to the mills and machinery of them. 

The technical inspector of mines and the curator of mines of the 
respective circumscription of mines are excepted; the} r can enter 
whenever they deem it advisable. 

Art. 120. The director of the mine has charge of its police, but his 
authority shall not extend beyond the boundary of the mining conces¬ 
sion, and in order to act he shall ask aid from the Territorial authorities 
who shall give it to him in benefit of the service of the mines, and he 
may apply to the local authorities in any case in which the procedure 
is not within the limit of his authority. 

Mines must aid in the ventilation of contiguous mines that may need 
it, and to allow the subterranean passage of the water when this is 
indispensable and for which indemnity for damage must be paid as 
may be fixed by experts. 

The easements above referred to are understood to lie established for 
underground work, but in regard to the superficial surface easements 
they shall be ruled by the provisions of this code. 

Title XIV.— General rules. 

Art. 121. No transfer of mining concessions shall be effected nor 
shall be valid without the previous consent of the Federal Executive, 
and under no circumstances can any transfer be made to foreign 
governments or states, nor can the latter be admitted as partners. 
Any stipulation of this kind is null and void and shall cause the 
immediate lapse of the concession. 

Art. 122. The registers of districts where the concessions may be 
situated, immediately after recording their definite titles, shall send, 
officially, a certified copy of them to the minister of fomento and to 
the inspector of mines. 

Art. 123. The minister of fomento, through the director of national 
wealth, shall establish a record in special books, in which shall be 
inscribed the name of the person who has acquired a concession; the 
district municipality or parish of the State, Territory, or the Federal 
District where it is situated; the date on which possession was given; 
the name that may have been given to the mine; the limits in which it 
is located, and the dimensions, number of hectares, and length on each 
side of the square for the effects of collecting the tax. 

Art. 124. The minister of fomento, the technical inspector of mines, 
president of the State, governor of the Territory and governor of the 
Federal District, registrars and chief officers of districts, municipali- 


250 


VENEZUELA. 


ties, and parishes shall strictly fulfil all the obligations established by 
this law and shall see that the books of register, which must be kept, 
are in conformity with this code. 

Art. 125. The record books kept by the chief officer of the munic¬ 
ipality or parish shall be signed on every page by the chief officer of 
the district or by his secretary, and those kept by the chief officer of 
the district shall be signed by the president of the State, governor of 
the Territory, or the governor of the Federal District, and those kept 
by the technical inspector of mines by the minister of fomento. And 
every one of them must have at the beginning a note, signed by the 
proper person, in which the number of pages of the book is mentioned. 

Art. 126. The superintendents or directors of mines shall establish 
the interior by laws to which enterprises must be submitted and which 
b}^ laws shall determine the hours of work of miners and other 
employees, the salaries, the days of payment, and the price of articles 
of commodity when the owner of the mine provides them in person or 
through a third party. 

Three of these regulations shall be posted in the most public places 
of the offices and one copy shall be sent to the curator of mines of 
the circumscription, one to the technical inspectorship of mines, and 
another to the fomento department. 

Sole paragraph .—In every contract concluded by the Federal Execu¬ 
tive with a private person or company articles 18 and 121 of the 
present code of mines shall be included. 

Title XV .—Transitory rules. 

Art. 127. All final titles of concessions of lode or vein mines and 
the contracts concluded with the Federal Executive for the exploita¬ 
tion of alluvion gold which are in force, issued in conformity with the 
provisions of the laws in force at the time of issue, are revalidated, 
adapted, and submitted to the provisions of this code from the date of 
its promulgation. 

Owners of final titles of vein and those of contracts, concluded for 
the exploitation of alluvion gold to which this article refers to the 
effect of the latter part of article 109, must submit to the Fomento 
Department a topographical plan of their mining property, drawn up 
by a Venezuelan engineer or surveyor, and verified by the respective 
curator of mines, to the same scale and under the same conditions as 
those provided in article 10. Said map must be submitted within six 
months after the promulgation of this code under penalty of paying a 
fine of 5,000 bolivars, and in this case the Fomento Department shall 
direct the drawing up of the plan. 

Art. 128. The owners of titles of mines issued according to the 
provisions of the laws in force when they were granted, who may not 
have paid the taxes and lines thereof or who may not have com- 


MINING CODE. 


251 


menced to work their mine have no right to the privilege granted by 
the foregoing article and their titles are hereby declared lapsed as 
well as the contracts concluded with the Federal Executive for the 
exploitation for alluvion gold, the works of which have not been begun 
within the prescribed terms. 

Art. 129. Lapsed concessions, in conformity to the laws with which 
they were granted, and which by reason of said lapsing have been 
denounced by a third party and granted to him in ownership, without 
opposition from their former possessor, belong to the new conces¬ 
sionary, who is the legal owner. 

In regard to denounced concessions which have already a provisional 
title and which in consequence are liable to obtain a final title, the 
latter shall be issued to them according to the provisions of this code. 

Sole paragraph. Denounced mines, the record of which has been 
completed, are declared valid and the parties interested are obliged to 
have the records established according to the provisions of this code. 

Art. 130. To revalidate and adapt a title of ownership of a mining 
concession, the Minister of Fomento, as soon as it shall be laid before 
him, shall put at the foot of the mentioned title a note, as follows: 

44 Revised, ratified, and adapted (on such a date) to the legal effects 
of the Mining Code in force, and recorded in the corresponding 
register. The Minister of Fomento. ” 

This title shall be recorded in the respective office of the Fomento 
Department as well as in the inspectorship of mines and in the register 
of the locality where the concession is situated^ 

FINAL RULES. 

Art. 131. A copy of the official edition of this code, signed b}^ me, 
countersigned by the Minister of Fomento, and sealed with the seal 
of the Federal Executive, shall serve as original, and shall be deposited 
and kept in the archives of this Department. 

Art. 132. This code shall commence to be in force on April 19,1904, 
and from that date the mining code sanctioned on March 29, 1893, 
and all other regulations that have been issued on the subject shall be 
repealed. 

Art. 133. Let the National Congress be informed in its next session 
by the Minister of Fomento. 

Given, signed, sealed with the great seal of the Federal Executive, 
and countersigned b}^ the Minister of Fomento, in the Federal Palace 
of Caracas, on January 23, 1904, 93d year of the Independence and 
46th of the Federation. 

Cipriano Castro. 

Countersigned: 

The Minister of Fomento. 

R. Garbiras Guzman. 


252 


VENEZUELA. 


The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Sole Article. The titles and articles of the Alining Code , decreed by 
the Constitutional President of the Republic on January 23, 1904, are 
hereby approved. Therefore, this code shall begin to be in force on 
April 19, 1904, and from that date are repealed the Mining Code 
sanctioned on March 29, 1903, and all other regulations issued on the 
subject. 

Given in the Legislative Palace, on March 24, 1904, 93d year of the 
Independence and 46th of the Federation, [l. s.] 

President of the Senate, Santiago Briceno; President of the Cham¬ 
ber of Deputies, Jose Ignacio Lares; Secretary of the Senate, R. 
Castillo Ciiapellin; Secretary of the Chamber of Deputies, Vicente 
Pimentel. 

MINING CONCESSIONS AND CONTRACTS DECLARED FORFEITED 

IN 1904. 

The Federal Executive of Venezuela by a resolution issued by the 
Department of Fomento of February 4, 1904, has declared the forfei¬ 
ture of 293 mining concessions and 17 contracts which comprise a total 
area of 113,745 hectares, for lack of compliance with the provisions of 
articles 61, 62, 96, 97, and 100 of the mining code in force. 

The Const)tucional, a semiofficial organ of the Venezuelan Govern¬ 
ment, in its number of February 8, 1904, publishes said resolution and 
states that the measure tends to the reorganization of the Administra¬ 
tion by the strict observance of the laws in force, because in very 
many instances mining taxes remained unpaid, stipulations of contracts 
and concessions lacked compliance and, in one word, one part of 
the bilateral mining concessions and contracts remained unfulfilled 
although the would-be concessionaires pretended to be left in undis¬ 
turbed possession of rich mining regions without complying with their 
engagements. Many of the concessions declared forfeited represent 
fabulous sums in undeveloped natural resources which offer possibili¬ 
ties for profitable investment of capital and which have reverted to 
the ownership of the nation. 

Hereunder is given an abstract of the resolution. 

United States of Venezuela, Department of Fomento, Direction 
of Territorial Wealth , Agriculture and Stock Raising , Caracas , Feb¬ 
ruary J, 1901 . (93d } r ear of the Independence and 45th of the Fed¬ 

eration.) 

Resolved ', For lack of compliance with the provisions of articles 61, 
62, 96, 97, and 100 of the mining code in force, the Federal Executive 
declares, on this date, the forfeiture of two hundred ninety-three (293) 
mining concessions and seventeen (17) contracts which comprise a 
total area of one hundred & thirteen thousand seven hundred forty-five 


MINING TITLES GRANTED. 


253 


(1 13,745) hectares, of which two are diamond concessions; two hundred 
twenty-three (223) vein gold; nine (9) gold and silver; one (1) alluvion 
gold; four (4) gold and copper; eight (8) copper; four (4) copper and 
other metals; one iron; one silver, lead, and zinc; one iron chromate; 
nineteen (19) coal; six (6) petroleum; two (2) asphalt; three (3) colum¬ 
bine guano, etc.; one phosphate of lime; one coalin and white feld- 
spath; one nitrate, and one hydraulic lime; and the contracts two (2) 
vein gold; fourteen (14) alluvion gold; one coal; asphalt, petroleum, 
and other substances, the names and locations of which are the 
following: 

(See report of Minister of Fomento to Congress, 1904, pp. 94 to 99, 
for names and locations.) 

The names of one hundred thirty-four concessions have not been 
mentioned, because they are not given in the respective titles. 

Therefore, the corresponding property deeds of the above-mentioned 
two hundred ninet} r -three concessions and seventeen contracts are null 
and void and revert to the full dominion of the nation from the date 
of this resolution to be administered in conformity with the mining 
code. Be it made known and published. For the Federal Executive: 
R. Garbiras-Guzman, Minister of Fomento. 

MINING TITLES GRANTED, 1903-4. 

The President of Venezuela, in his message to Congress presented 
on February 20, 1904, states that during the } r ear ending February 20, 
1904, the Government granted 11 definitive mining titles—5 asphalt, 
3 coal, and 3 copper—and 7 titles of land grants for cattle raising. 
(Message, p. 44.) 

NUMBER OF CONCESSIONS AND CONTRACTS FORFEITED, 1903-4. 

The message further states that the Government has declared for¬ 
feited 338 mining concessions and 17 mining contracts for lack of 
fulfillment of the legal provisions in force. (Message, p. 45.) 


INDEX TO CHAPTER YU. 


Page. 

Mining. 201 

First mining epoch. 201 

Mineral wealth. 201 

Mineral regions.*.. 201 

Gold region. 201 

Copper region. 202 

Iron region. 202 

Lead region. 202 

Asphalt region. 202 

Petroleum region. 202 

Coal region. 202 

Sulphur region. 203 

Salt region. 003 

Jet and other mineral regions. 203 

Thermal and mineral waters region. 203 

Mineral deposits. 204 

■ Gold. 205 

Gold fields. 205 

Development. 206 

Lack of transportation. 206 

Number of gold mines. 206 

Ciudad Bolivar exports of gold, 1866 to 1885. 206 

Callao gold mines. 206 

Callao mine gold output, 1871 to 1890. 206 

Callao mines gold output, 1884 to 1899 . 207 

Callao and other gold mines and their product, 1887-88. 207 

Yuruari gold mines product, 1866 to 1895 . 207 

Ciudad Bolivar gold exports, 1875 to 1898. 207 

Gold production of Venezuela, 1896 to 1903. 207 

Gold production in America, 1896 to 1903. 207 

Copper. 208 

Aroa copper mines. 208 

Copper ore production, 1800 to 1838. 208 

Copper ore production, 1880 to 1894. 208 

Iron...*. 208 

Iron ore deposits. 208 

Iron mines. 209 

Iron ore shipments. 209 

Iron ore mine transfer. 209 

Asphalt... 209 

Pedernales asphalt. 209 

Maracaibo asphalt. 210 

Asphalt imports from Venezuela, 1900-1901 . 210 

254 














































INDEX TO CHAPTER VIT. 


255 


Coal. 

Coal deposits. 

Brown coal. 

Eastern deposits. 

Western deposits. 

Transportation facilities. 

Quality of coal.. 

Sulphur. 

Sulphur deposits.. 

Method of transportation. 

Number of deposits. 

Quality of mineral.. 

Cost of production... 

Sulphur company. 

Salt... 

Salt exports in 1901. 

Coche salt. 

Method of transportation. 

Araya salt. 

Salt product from 1832 to 1881. 

Salt product from 1885 to 1894 . 

Salt statistics for 1894. 

Salt product from 1900 to 1903 ... 

Mineral products. 

Minerals. 

Ores. 

Vein gold..*. 

Copper ores. 

Iron ore3.... 

Mineral coal.. 

Asphaltum. 

Building stones, marbles, etc.. 

Clays and other fictile materials.. 

Limestone cement and artificial stone.. 

Salts, sulphur, fertilizers.. 

Mineral waters... 

Principal provisions of the mining law.. 

Mining legislation.. 

Present mining law. 

Classification of minerals. 

Mining ownership.. 

Mining concessions. 

Debarred as concessionaires. 

Mining taxes. 

Mining code (full text). 

Mining concessions and contracts declared forfeited in 1904 

Mining titles granted, 1903-4.. 

Number of concessions forfeited, 1903-4.. 


Page. 
. 211 
. 211 
. 211 
. 212 
. 212 
_ 212 
. 212 
. 212 
. 212 
. 212 
. 213 

. 213 

. 213 

. 213 

. 213 

213 
. 214 

. 214 

. 214 

. 214 

. 214 

. 215 

. 215 

. 215 

. 215 

216 

. 216 
. 216 
. 217 

. 217 

. 218 

218 

219 
. 219 

. 219 

219 

. 220 
. 220 
. 220 
. 220 
. 220 

220 

. 220 
. 220 
221-252 
. 252 

. 253 

. 253 


























































N 











‘ 























. 
































CHAPTER VIII. 


MANUFACTURING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. 

There are in Venezuela numerous industries producing many arti¬ 
cles of food, clothing, and other necessities of civilized life, from the 
product of the grain mill to the manufacture of pianos and mirrors. 
Steam and electricity are generally emplo 3 r ed as motive power. 


PRINCIPAL MANUFACTURING CITIES. 

The principal manufacturing cities are Caracas,Valencia, Maracaibo, 
La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Barquisimeto, and Ciudad Bolivar. 


MAIN INDUSTRIES. 


The main industries are the manufacture of agricultural machinery 
and implements, carriages and wagons, pianos, furniture, aerated 
waters, blank books, stationery, chocolate, ice, matches, mirrors, soap 
and candles, electrotypes, wines and beer, electric light and power, 
and others of lesser importance. 


BREWERIES. 


The two most important breweries in Venezuela are the Cerveceria 
Nacional and the Maracaibo brewery. The Cerveceria Nacional, a 
stock company capitalized at 2,500,000 bolivars, was established at 
Caracas the 16th of August, 1891, with a capital of 600,000 bolivars. 
The enterprise prospered from the beginning. In 1895 it was obliged 
to increase its capital to 1,300,000 bolivars, and in 1901 to 2,500,000 
bolivars, its present capital. This last increase was due to the pur¬ 
chase of two rival establishments, the breweries of Puerto Cabello and 


Valencia. 

The Cerveceria Nacional, of Caracas, produces actually from 10,000 
to 12,000 hectoliters annually, although it could easily produce 30,000 
hectoliters. The beer is sold in casks or in bottles in all the central 
and eastern provinces. The hops come from Germany and Austria 
and the bottles and corks from Germany. The ice plant annexed to 
the brewery produces, after cooling the vats, 2,300 kilograms of ice 
per day. The Cerveceria Nacional is very prosperous. A German 


4a—04-17 


257 



258 


VENEZUELA. 


company has recently acquired control in the management of the 
concern and will further develop the business. 

Owing to the recent establishment of breweries the importation of 
beer has reached a mere nominal figure, and in a very short time will 
cease entirely. Large quantities were formerly imported from the 
United States, England, and Germany. 

BUTTER AND LARD. 


The United States trade in butter and lard with Venezuela does not 
receive the attention which is warranted. Of the total import only 
about one-eighth is accredited to the United States. Danish butter is 
largely used, forming the only import from Denmark, but as it is 
shipped from Hamburg it figures as a German export. This com¬ 
mands a retail price of from 35 to 40 cents per pound, and is highly 
regarded on account of its excellent packing. Butter from the United 
States is often carelessly packed and faultily invoiced, which condi¬ 
tions are largely responsible for the stringent regulations made con¬ 
cerning chemical tests of its purity. Violations of the law invoicing 
“impure" articles as “pure v will not only cause confiscation, but in 
addition will result in the payment of double the duty fixed by the 
Government. Puerto Cabello is an important port of entry for the 
lard used in the Republic. 

Chemical tests.—On account of impurities and deleterious substances 
found, upon investigation, to be contained in lard and butter imported 
into Venezuela, the Government has deemed it necessarv to submit all 
such importations arriving at the custom-houses of this country to a 
chemical analysis to establish their purity. 

The following statement from the director of the national labora- 
tory shows the chemical properties which American pork, lard, and 
butter must possess to be considered pure, according to the Venezuelan 
tariff law: 


1. Absorption of iodine (index of Hubl) referred to the total acid greases: From 
52 to 69 per cent, or rather referred to the neutral matter, for which it will suffice to 
multiply the former numbers by 0.955. 

2. Index < f saponification (Kdttstorfer) in miligrams of potash (KOH): From 
190.7 to 205.7, or the equivalent, from 294.14 to 272.64. 

3. Index of Reichert-Meissl-Wolny (R. M. AV.): From 0.4 to 0.6. 

4. Point of turbidity: From 24°.1 to 28°.7. 

5. Reaction of Becchi-Millian and reaction of AVelmans: Negatives. 

6. Sulphuric saponification (index of Maumena): 

Absolute: From 25°.01 to 33°.02. 

Relative: From 69°.8 to 93°. 

7. Saturation of 1 gram of acid greases in cubic centimeters of normal soda 
(NaOH): From 3.58 to 3.68. 

8. Point of fusion of the acid greases: From 37°.5 to 45°.8. 

9. Point of solidification of above: From 34° to 42°.7. 

10. Point of fusion of neutral matter: From 28° to 35°.6. 


CHOCOLATE MANUFACTORY. 


259 


11. 1‘oint of solidification of above: From 24° to 32°.6. 

12. Nitrous vapors (Carlletet): Solid mass. 

13. Density to -(-75° taken with Mohr balance: From 0.913 to 0.916. 
For butter the reactions are: 


1. Index of Kottstorfer: In milligrams of potash (K. O. H.): 220 to 243.9 or the 
equivalent: 255 to 230. 

2. Index of R. M. W.: 26 to 32. 

3. Index of Hiibl: 26 to 35.5. 

4. Index of Hehuer: 85 to 89. 

5. Point of solidification of acid greases: 38° to 40°. 


By an enactment of the Venezuelan Congress all lard mixtures and 
oleomargarine which were formerly in class 3 with pure lard have 
been placed in class I of the tariff; pure lard is retained in class 3. 
The duty applicable to class 3, according to the tariff, is 23 centimes 
per kilogram, while that of class I is 75 centimos. 


CHEESE MANUFACTORY. 

Only two different kinds of cheese are manufactured on a large scale 

in the country, one called “llanero- 1 and the other u maracay.” The 

first kind comes from the cattle estates of the Guarico and the Tuv 

%/ 

and the other from the Aragua State, and especially from the vicinity 
of the cit} r of Maracay, whence it derives its name. Both kinds are 
of a creamy color, and the price fluctuates between $15 and $25 per 
quintal (d6 kilograms). The production supplies the needs of the 
country. 

CHOCOLATE MANUFACTORY. 


The protective duty of 1 bolivar per gross kilogram (packing 
included), which is levied upon all grades of chocolate imported into 
Venezuela, prohibits the introduction of any except manufactured 
chocolate, candies, etc., the consumption of which is quite large. An 
important house in Turin has, in the three years it has been trying to 
establish a market in Caracas, imported 5,000 kilograms annually. 
But the protective tariff has almost complete^ stopped the importa¬ 
tion of chocolate in cakes, as it is manufactured in the country in 
sufficient quantities to supply the national consumption. Two fac¬ 
tories of some importance are established at Caracas and supply the 
local demand. The annual production of the India factory is 20,000 
kilograms. The raw material, cocao and sugar, are bought m the 
country, which produces these articles in abundance and of good 
quality. Caracas chocolate is considered the best product of its kind 
in the world. 

CIGARETTE FACTORIES. 


The cigarette factories, of which there are several, are protected by 
high import duties and are in a very flourishing condition. The most 
important one buys its tobacco in leaves partly from Cuba and partly 
from Capadare, Maturin, Quebrada Seca, Macarao, Giiigue, and Gua- 
nape (Venezuela). Great numbers of American machines are employed 


VENEZUELA. 


260 

in the preparation of the tobacco. All of the cigarette factories, in 
spite of the competition, make large profits, 25 to 30 per cent. 

A tobacco trust has recently been formed by an American compan}^. 
It is reported that this company will endeavor to concentrate and con¬ 
trol the tobacco and cigarette trade in Venezuela. The daily produc¬ 
tion and consumption of cigarettes in the Federal District amounts to 
about 50,000 boxes, each containing from 15 to 20 cigarettes; that is 
is to say, about 900,000 cigarettes daily. Many thousands of boxes 
are forwarded to the interior of the country for its consumption. 


COTTON GOODS MANUFACTORY. 


A cotton o-oods manufactory was established in Caracas in 1899. 
The promoters of the enterprise and nearly all the stockholders were 
citizens of the United States. According to the reported concessions 
the company was granted exemption from taxation, raw material used 
in the mills to be admitted free, and all employees to be exempt from 
military service. All raw material was to be imported from the 
United States. The capital of this enterprise was $312,500, divided 
into 3,125 shares of $100 each. The erection of suitable buildings in 
or in close proximity to the city of Caracas was commenced shortly 
after the contract. 

Valencia factory.—There has existed for many years in Valencia a 
tine plant for the manufacture of cotton cloth. A part of the raw 
material is imported and the rest produced in Venezuela. 

Decision relative to cotton goods.—A decree issued on December 3, 
1898, reads as follows: 

“ In order to avoid difficulties and controversies at the custom-houses 
of the Republic in the dispatch and classification of colored cotton 
goods manufactured with colored threads, or with white and colored 
threads, plain or striped lines, etc. (fancy or not), which are in many 
cases considered by the examiners as mixed 4 colored cotton and linen 
goods’ belonging to the sixth class, when they are sent as ordinary 
colored prints which pertain to the fifth class, therefore making them 
subject to confiscation according to law, the President of the Republic 
has decided: That when said cotton goods imported contain only 13 
threads in a square of 5 millimeters they should be considered as 
ordinary cotton prints belonging to the fifth class, and wffien the same 
square of 5 millimeters contains more than 13 rows of thread they 
shall be considered as mixed cotton and linen goods of the sixth class. 

“Importers of ordinary cotton prints are obliged to specify in their 
consular declaration that said prints do not contain over 13 rows of 
thread, in warp or woof, to the square of 5 millimeters. 

44 Noncompliance Avith this formality will be sufficient to classify the 
goods as belonging to the sixth class from the 1st of January, 1899. 


75 


Handbook of Venezuela 



ENCANTADO RAPIDS, RIVER GUAIRE. 
(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 






ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS. 


261 


ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS. 


There are several electric plants in Venezuela, three of which are 
run by water. One is situated at El Encantado, 16 kilometers from 
Caracas. During the rainy season it develops 100 horsepower, but 
from December to April this is reduced to 100 or less, as in the dry 
months the water is used for irrigating the adjoining lands. This 
enterprise was organized in 1897 with a capital of about $200,000 
gold. Three vertical turbines are employed, and the generators are 
alternating currents and develop power of 5,000 volts. Most of the 
apparatus is of Swiss manufacture. The wires came from Italy. 

The power developed is used by corn mills, also by printing offices, 
coffee mills, etc. At night it is employed to light Caracas, 12 cents 
per horsepower being paid for this purpose. The other industrial con¬ 
cerns pay from 30 cents to 50 cents per horsepower per day of ten 
hours. The company has completed a new plant, II miles farther 
away, at a point where there is a waterfall of 91 meters, from which 
station is obtained 1,500 horsepower. 

Another enterprise is at Merida (Merida State). This was estab¬ 
lished in 1900 to light the cit} T ; only about 150 horsepower is devel¬ 
oped. All the machinery is of American make and of direct current 
system. 

San Cristobal (Tachira State) has an electric station of 200 horse¬ 
power to light the city and furnish power for a few industrial concerns. 

The following electric plants have steam as motive power: 

Caracas.—“ Compama de Gas y Luz Electrica de Caracas,’’ with a 
capital of 2,300,000 bolivars, 300 horsepower, uses patent fuel (I tons 
daily) and 7,350 gallons of water. The plant has a capacity of 96 
voltaire arc lamps of 2,000 candlepower, which are used in the streets, 
and a great quantity of incandescent lamps of 16 candlepower for 
private houses. For arc lights 50 cents is paid per night of six and 
one-half hours; for incandescent, $1.80 per month. These last are the 
Edison system. 

Maracaibo.—An electric plant furnishes light for 950 arc lights of 
1,000 candlepower and a great quantity of incandescent lamps. Fuel 
being cheap, the price of the latter is 80 cents per month for all night. 

Valencia.—A plant furnishes electric power for 60 arc and a great 
number of incandescent lights. 

Puerto Cabello.—A plant furnishes power for 50 arc and a consider¬ 
able number of incandescent lights. The arc lights are of 800 
candlepower. 

EMULSION FACTORY. 

United States consul at Maracaibo transmitted, under date of 
November 29, 1900, copy of a contract made by the Venezuelan 
Government with manufacturers of a well-known emulsion, authoriz- 


262 


VENEZUELA. 


ing them to establish a factory at the capital, and granting the free 
introduction into the country of the necessary bottles, etc., the con¬ 
tract to last twenty-five years. It is completing installment and 
promises good results. 

LEATHER MANUFACTORIES. 

Leather manufacturing is the principal native industry, all the raw 
material being found in the country. The hides are furnished by 
horned cattle, sheep, deer, and goats of the States of Lara and Falcon. 
The tanning barks are obtained from myrobalsam , mangle , dividivi , 
and quebracho from the forests of the Orinoco and the Zulia. About 
the middle of the century some European workmen—Italians and 
Spaniards principally—established a shoe factory in Caracas, and, pro¬ 
tected by the customs duties, the leather, tanning, saddlery, and shoe¬ 
making industries were gradually established in the country. There 
are several tanneries at Caracas. The largest of these buys about 80 
oxhides a day from the Caracas abattoirs, and in addition treats about 
200 sheepskins and 60 dozen goatskins bought at Maracaibo and at 
Coro. This factory only uses for tanning purposes the bark of the 
dividivi coming from the valleys of Aragua, Coro, Margarita, and 
Maracaibo, and the bark of the mangle from this last port. Only 
ordinary or half-fine leather for soles and vamps is produced in this 
factory. The fine leather, varnished calfskins, etc., come from France, 
Germany, and the United States. The saddleries established at Cara¬ 
cas also make many saddles, varying in price from 60 to 600 bolivars. 
There are very many tanneries throughout the country. 

MATCH FACTORIES. 

There are several match factories in Caracas and other principal 
cities of Venezuela. 

0 

PAPER FACTORY. _ 

The minister of fomento of the United States of Venezuela, thereto 
authorized by the Federal Executive, of the one part, and of the other, 
a Venezuelan engineer, have entered into a contract, the contractor 
engaging to establish a paper factory in the Republic within two years 
after the approbation of this contract by the National Congress. 

The Government undertakes not to burden this enterprise or its 
products, from the date of the approbation of this contract, with any 
national impost, and to solicit the like concession from the States and 
municipalities. Import duties are excepted from this exemption, 
and the} 7 shall be paid in accordance with the laws on the subject. 

The Government undertakes not to grant to any other person any 
concession more advantageous than that which is granted to the con¬ 
tractor by virtue of this contract. 


PORCELAIN FACTORIES. 


268 


The contract is granted for a term of twenty years. 

It can not he transferred to a foreign government or an} 7 person or 
company without the consent of the Federal Executive. 

All doubts and controversies of whatever nature that arise under the 
contract shall be adjusted in conformity with article 139 of the present 
national constitution. 


PORCELAIN FACTORIES. 

The \ enezuelan Government has recently granted a contract for the 
manufacture of porcelain, glass, crystal, and pottery in Venezuela 
according to the following terms: 

The contractor undertakes to establish in the Federal District, or at 
other points in the Republic of Venezuela, one or more factories for 
the manufacture of such objects of crystal, glass, porcelain, and pot¬ 
tery as should be required for the consumption of the country. The 
factories shall be established and in working order within the two 
years following the date on which this contract is approved by the 
National Congress, except in case of impediments caused by superior 
force or accident, legally proved before the Federal Executive. 

As special protection to this industry, which is a new one in Vene¬ 
zuela, the Federal Executive makes the following concessions to the 
contractor: The exclusive right to exercise the said industry in the 
State, Territory, or Federal District in which a factory may be installed 
during the first ten years of the duration of this contract; the right to 
use gratis, during the continuance of this contract, all prime materials 
found on unreclaimed lands, the property of the nation; the right to 
import, free of duty, for once only, for each of the factories which the 
contractor may establish, the machinery, apparatus, instruments, build¬ 
ing materials, tools, and implements destined for the installation and 
exploitation of his factories, on complying for that purpose, on every 
importation, with the legal requisites; and the exemption of this enter¬ 
prise and its annexes and products from the payment of all national 
imposts and contributions during the continuance of this contract 

The concession is granted for a term of fifteen years. 

All doubts and controversies which may arise in the interpretation 
and execution of the contract shall be settled amicably between the 
contracting parties; but in case it be impossible to agree, they declare 
that they will submit in everything to the provisions of article 139 of 
the Federal Constitution now in force, and such doubts shall not in 
any case be allowed to give rise to international reclamations. 

The contractor shall have the power to transfer in part or in their 
entirety the rights which he acquires by this contract, with the previ¬ 
ous consent of the Federal Executive, but shall in no case transfer the 
same to a foreign government. 


264 


VENEZUELA. 


• SHOE FACTORIES. 

The demand for shoes of the Venezuelan people consists of about 
5,000,000 pairs of sandals and 1,500,000 pairs of shoes or boots of all 
kinds, and is entirely supplied by the home industry. There arc 757 
shoemakers and shoe establishments in the country. Two large fac¬ 
tories in Caracas employ 200 workmen. Their efforts to afford the 
country cheaper shoes have, however, not entirely driven out the 
shoemakers. On the contrary, handmade goods are preferred, this 
branch, often carried on as a house industry, furnishes generally a 
good and profitable employment. The two factories in Caracas have 
up to this time done nothing in regard to exportation, and owing to 
the comparatively high prices of the production, will probably not 
be able to do so for some time. The importation of foreign footwear 
into Venezuela is forbidden by the customs tariff 1 of Ma} T 21, 1897. 
Foreign competition is therefore out of the question. 

One shoe factoiw at Caracas produces daily 500 pairs of shoes and 
slippers of every size and shape. The price of these shoes varies from 
2.50 to 22 bolivars a pair. There is another shoe factory at La Guaira 
which produces 200 pairs of shoes and 40 dozen alpargatcis (ordinary 
slippers) daily. It has retail houses at Ciudad Bolivar and Maracaibo 
and sends its products to all parts of the Republic. 

SILK-SPINNING SPIDERS. 

Large silk-spinning spiders are to be found in some of the palm 
trees of Venezuela. Some of the insects produce white and others 
yellow silk, and their product is woven into handkerchiefs. The 
entomologist of the Department of Agriculture of the United States 
says that silk produced in this way can not be made valuable commer¬ 
cially because of the necessity of keeping the spiders separated to 
prevent their devouring each other. Their food being insects, this 
also involves considerable labor in suppling them. Therefore, until 
some device be adopted to overcome the existing drawbacks, this silk 
product can not become a new commercial commodity of Venezuela. 

STEAM LAUNDRY. 

A steam latindry, located at Caracas, has built up a good business in 
the past three or four years. It is competently managed and does 
first-class work. 

OTHER MANUFACTORIES AND INDUSTRIES. 

There is near Caracas a plant for the manufacture of wicks, which 
has been in operation for several years. 

There are several sawmills at Caracas and other principal cities of 
Venezuela. 


INDUSTRIES. 


265 


At \ alencia and Caracas there are first-class foundries capable of 
undertaking any kind of work. 

In Merida the principal industry is the manufacture of woolen 
carpets dyed with vegetable dyes, giving the brightest colors. 

The manufacture of cheese is the principal industry of the region 
of the plains. 

In the vicinity of Barquisimeto, Guanare, and Acarigua, and in 
several other places, hammocks, bags, and bagging are manufactured 
of 1,4 cocuiza " and “cocuy” (species of kenequen). 

In Cumana stone water filters are made and used throughout the 
country. 

In the States of Lara, (former) Los Andes, and Falcon, beautiful 
cotton and woolen embroideries are made by hand, used for trimming 
shawls and other wearing apparel. 

Sugar, papelon (species of brown sugar), alcohols, and rums are 
manufactured in the sugar-cane plantations. 

The products of the animal industry are hides, skins, feathers, 
animal fats, wool, hair, wax, and honey. 

Shipbuilding is as } r et in its infancy and is scarcely worthy of men¬ 
tion; however, a large number of small craft for. navigation on the 
coasts, rivers, and lakes is manufactured. The best shipyard in Vene¬ 
zuela is in Maracaibo. Years ago a small steamboat was built in 
Clarines, the only one of its kind ever made in Venezuela. 

INDUSTRIES. 


The following is an abstract from a report of the United States 
Consul at Puerto Cabello: 

The industries of this district are the following: Breweries, two, 
German capital; capacity of tanks, about 5,000 gallons; both manu¬ 
facture ice. Bakeries, eight, most of them French capital; product, 
bread, crackers, and cakes. Cigar and cigarette manufactories, Ven¬ 
ezuelan capital; some foreign tobacco is used, but the majority is 
produced in the celebrated Capadare district of Venezuela. Candle 
manufactories, four; one German capital. Cotton-cloth manufac¬ 
tory, one; Venezuelan capital. Electric-light plants, two, United States 
capital; one in Valencia and other in Puerto Cabello; supply light to cities 
and residences; managers of both are Americans. Cornmeal-grinding 
mills, twelve, Venezuelan capital. Ilat manufactories, four; French, 
Italian, and Venezuelan capital. Marble quarry, one, German capital; 
marble said to be superior to that of Italy. Marble works, one, German 
capital; makes monuments, tombstones, table tops, slabs, etc. Medi¬ 
cine manufactories, eight, most of German capital. Cocoanut-oil 
manufactories, two, German capital; product consumed here. Piun 
and bay-rum distilleries, four, Venezuelan capital. Shoe manufactories, 


266 


VENEZUELA. 


ten (some small), French and Venezuelan capital; alpargatas, similar 
to sandals, are the popular footwear; line shoes are also made. Soap 
manufactories, four, German capital; a good article is produced; 
cocoanut oil is used in its manufacture. Saw and wood-working mills, 
three, French and Venezuelan capital; modern machinery and saws are 
employed; considerable pine from the United States is used. 


PEARL INDUSTRY. 

The pearl fisheries of Margarita date back to an epoch beyond the 
discovery of America by Columbus, it being an historical fact that the 
native Indian women, when first seen by the European explorers, were 
adorned with necklaces and armlets of pearls of great value. 

With the advance in the price of pearls there appears to have been 
extraordinary activity on the island of Margarita. About 400 sail¬ 
boats are used by the natives in the fisheries of this and the neighbor- 
ing islands of Coche and Cubagua. The principal pearl beds are at 
El Tirano, northeast, and Macanao, northwest of Margarita. About 
2,000 men find constant employment in this trade. The fishers use 
meal scoops which are dragged over the oyster beds, and when filled 
are brought to the surface, where the shells are opened and care¬ 
fully examined. The boats used are from 8 to 15 tons capacity, and 
pay to the Venezuelan authorities 15 bolivars (about $3) each for per¬ 
mits to fish. The pearls are very fine in quality, beautiful in luster, 
and run from white to } T ellow; occasionally a black one, priceless in 
value, is brought to the surface. The shell of the oyster is not of 
much commercial value, being too thin for the manufacture of but¬ 
tons and other fancy articles such as are made from the oriental pearl 
shell. This is due, it is said, to the short life of the Margaritan pearl 
oyster, eight years being about the average age. Pearls from dead 
oysters have very little value, as they lose their luster. A French 
company has recently started fishing for pearls by means of divers and 
diving apparatus, and expects good results from the enterprise. 
The divers claim they can select the larger oysters and leave the 
smaller undisturbed, giving them time to grow and increase in value. 
This company purchased the concession from a Venezuelan and has to 
pay the Venezuelan Government 10 per cent royalty on the profits of 
the enterprise. The value of pearls found near Margarita is estimated 
at about $900,000 a year. If the new method adopted by the French 
compan} r be successful, the output will probably be considerably 
increased in quality and value in the future. 

In 1900 the Government of Venezuela granted to a contractor the 
exclusive right to take mother-of-pearl, pearls, sponges, turtles, and 
products of the sea, except fish, in the maritime zone included between 
Costa Firme (the mainland) and the island of Margarita and between 


HAT TRADE. 


267 


the latter and adjacent islands—said fisheries to be conducted by 
means of submarine apparatus, the existing- pearl fisheries being free 
to work according to the methods employed at the time. The con¬ 
tractor surrendered 10 per cent of his net profits. 

In 1902 an assignee of the contractor entered into an additional con¬ 
tract with the Venezuelan Government regarding pearl fishing, and 
according to the latest information pearl fishing has been prohibited 
in certain parts of the waters of the Republic. 

Pearl fishing is regulated by an Executive decree of July 16, 1903, 
and b} T another of July 17, 1903. 


HAT TRADE OF VENEZUELA 


United States manufacturers and exporters have not given this field 
the degree of attention it merits, notwithstanding the fact that hats 
of certain makes from the United States have a standard value in the 
markets of the world and would command a ready sale in Venezuela 
and other South American markets were their qualities adequate^ 
advertised. One drawback to a more effective knowledge of this 
branch of trade on the part of the Latin-American buyers is limited 
means of communication as compared with transit facilities between 
Venezuelan cities and European cities. At certain ports of the Repub¬ 
lic there is on an average an arrival of one steamer each dav from 
Europe, while the limit of direct intercourse with the United States 
is fixed by one line, having a weekly service. One of the consequences 
of this is a high freight rate from and to the United States, while 
European competing companies are enabled to lower their transport 
schedule for the benefit of foreign purchasers. 

Though many hatters in Venezuela adopt the French style of head- 
gear, the greater number of hats come from Germany. France and 
England send only a very small proportion. Wool hats come from 
Austria, France, and Italy, the latter country also furnishing the 
majority of the straw hats. In the cities the European style of hats 
is adopted. In the provinces, however, the favorite headgear of the 
plainsmen, or “llaneros,” is a wide-brimmed low-crowned hat, which 
is made of either velvet and straw, called “ pelo de guama,” or straw 
hats from moriche and other palm trees. 

It is difficult to give precise indications of this trade, owing to the 
fact that the custom-house statistics make no distinction between the 
imports of straw and felt hats. 

Felt hats, which are placed in class 9 of the customs tariff, paying 
20 bolivars ($3.86) per kilogram, are very seldom imported ready¬ 
made, the felts being shipped and upon arrival are made into the 
desired shapes. In the matter of straw hats a different process is 
employed. All the parts are sent separately to avoid high duties, and 


268 


VENEZUELA. 


are made up by the local hatters. Straw hats sent under the head of 
u sombreros de paja sin ningiin adorno" (untrimmed straw hats) come 
under the sixth class of the tariff, and pay 2.50 bolivars (48 cents) per 
kilogram. Ribbons for hats, in class 4, pay 75 cents the kilogram, 
and hat crowns and sweat bands are in class 4 and pay 14^- cents the 
kilogram import duty. The manufacture of straw hats is almost 
universal. 

Goods imported into Venezuela being taxed at the custom-house 
according to their gross weight, hats are generally packed in crates 
lined with oilcloth or a thin zinc sheeting. Velvet hats are shipped, 
like other textile fabrics, in bales closely strapped by iron bands. 


MARKET FOR UNITED STATES MANUFACTURERS. 


i _ 

The conditions in Venezuela are most conducive to the manufac¬ 
turers of the United States finding a profitable market for their goods. 
The climate is good and it is an excellent winter resort for Americans. 


People going there with business intentions find it to their advantage 
to comply with the laws and customs of the country and to under¬ 
stand the Spanish language. Factories are not numerous and there is 
a scarcity of skilled labor. Goods must be shipped when ordered, and 
packed as directed, for the customs tariff is levied on the gross weight 
of the merchandise imported, and rough handling of goods is the 
rule. Light but strong packing is necessary to insure safe delivery. 

United States manufacturers can not work up a business intercourse 
with South America by occasionally sending a representative with sam¬ 
ples to drum up trade. Business is transacted entirely in the Spanish 
language; the terms and conditions of the buyers must be complied 
with and long credits given. The commercial standing of the mer¬ 
chants is high and trade failures are few. The construction of tram- 
wavs, bridges, waterworks, and sawmills, as well as the development 
of the mines are among the paying enterprises. 

Among articles of United States product and manufacture that might 
be profitably exported from that country to Venezuela are: Provisions 
of all kinds, small ice machines for domestic use, petroleum and hot¬ 
air engines, windmills, brick-making machineiy, furniture, cutlery, 
butter, household appliances, tiles, whisky, electric fans, novelties, 
earthenware, cheap glassware, corrugated iron, silverware, plated 
goods, clocks, underwear, laundry machinery, brooms, brushes, refrig¬ 
erators for butchers and for domestic use, lithograph work, gasoline 
stoves, oil cooking stoves, ready-made clothing, cottons, drills, light 
wagons and carriages for rough road travel, loaf sugar, rough lumber, 
coffee-cleaning machinery, coal in briquettes, locks and bolts of par¬ 
ticular style, hoes, tinware, willow ware, wooden ware, Philadelphia 
dressed kid, hammocks, plows, rattan furniture, and mixed paints. 


MARKET FOR UNITED STATES MANUFACTURES. 


269 


The total exports of Venezuela amount to nearly $20,000,000 
annually, and the imports are valued at, approximately, $14,000,000. 
Taxes are low and the rate of interest is high. The cost of registering 
a trade-mark is $25, and for registering a patent $140. The currency 
is on a gold basis, the gold coins being 20-dollar and 4-dollar pieces. 


MARKET FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 


The following report was received at the United States Department 
of Commerce and Labor from the United States consul at La Guaira: 

u Hand labor v. machinery. —The cost of hand labor is not high 
for agricultural work. For manufacturing many labor-saving imple¬ 
ments might be used. 

‘'Hoads, animals , and vehicles. —The roads are not suitable for 
United States styles of vehicles, and draft animals are rather small 
for any ordinary vehicles for freight. The lighter kind of pleasure 
vehicles could be used when the roads are good. 


“Implements. —Few United States agricultural implements are sold 
here. 

“IIow to increase United States trade. —The only suggestion as to 
how to introduce such implements would be that some demonstration 
of their practical use be made by interested parties. The principal 
reason for this is the geological formation of the country, which is 
mostty mountainous, excepting the vast plains of the'interior. 

“The following is a list of articles which might sell most readily if 
property introduced: 


Agricultural implements. 

Axles, wagon and carriage. 

Brass goods. 

Corn planters. 

Corn huskers. 

Cornshellers. 

Castings, malleable. 

Castings, gray iron. 

Carts. 

Cordage. 

Dump carts. 

Fencing wire. 

Horsepowers. 

Hardware and carriage specialties. 
Harness. 

Horseshoes. 

Implements, farm. 

Mills, saw. 


Mills, cane. 

Machines, brick. 

Plows, wheel and walking. 
Plumbing supplies. 

Scales. 

Shovels. 

Springs, wagon and carriage. 
Sickles. 

Trucks, warehouse. 

Umbrellas, rain and sun. 

Vehicles. 

Wagons, farm. 

Windmills. 

Windmill towers. 

Windmill pumps. 

Wheelbarrows. 

Well-drilling machines and tools. 




270 


VENEZUELA. 


CARACAS WAREHOUSE. 


An exhibition warehouse in the city of Caracas, Venezuela, was 
established on March 29, 1898, after months of careful investigation 
and study of conditions by a special commissioner of the National 
Association of Manufacturers, and the association received applica¬ 
tions for space in the building which has been secured for the pur¬ 
pose. The warehouse was designed to serve as a permanent exposi¬ 
tion of American goods and as headquarters for salesmen visiting 
Venezuela in the interest of exhibitors. The aim of the association in 
establishing this warehouse was to stimulate trade between the United 
States and Venezuela, by familiarizing the merchants of Venezuela 
with the American goods which they can purchase to advantage. 

This warehouse was established under the terms of a special conces¬ 
sion granted to the National Association of Manufacturers by the 
Government of Venezuela. This concession gave the privilege of 
enter mg’ goods free of duty when intended for exhibition in the ware- 
houses of the association in Venezuela, duty to be paid only in case of 
the actual sale of the goods. This privilege, the high favor with 
which all things American are regarded in Venezuela, and the large vari¬ 
ety of American-made goods which are salable in that country, make the 
conditions exceptional^ favorable for such an enterprise. Prominent 
business men in Caracas took active part in the preliminary work 
of establishing this warehouse, and the Venezuelan Government has 
manifested a lively interest in the project and has indicated a disposi¬ 
tion to aid in every practicable manner to make the enterprise a 
complete success. 

As this was the first of an extensive system of similar depots which 
the National Association of Manufacturers contemplates establishing in 
various foreign trade centers, it is desired that this warehouse shall be 
in every way a model institution of its kind. Idle plans for its organi¬ 
zation and management were carefully formulated, and the exhibits 
wej*e confined to those lines of goods for which there is a known 
market in Venezuela. There are many articles of American manu¬ 
facture which it would be useless to attempt to sell in Venezuela, and 
exhibits of such goods as these are not desired. The entire enterprise 
was planned upon a basis of practical benefit to its participants. 


BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. 


Manufactures.—Cloaks and capes of friez (baize) are much worn by 
the country people and soldiers of Venezuela. The cloth from which 
these capes are made is either red or dark blue in color and can be 
purchased almost everywhere throughout the countiw. This cloth is 
imported exclusively from Great Britain. As the demand for these 


BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. 


271 


goods is considerable Venezuela should be a good market for American 
manufacturers to dispose of some such materials. 

Industries.—There is a splendid opening for the establishment in 
Venezuela of factories for preserving meat and making meat extract. 
Cattle arc abundant and cheap, and the only available markets at 
present are in the West Indies. The country is about half the dis¬ 
tance of the River Plate from Europe and seven days from the United 
States by direct line. These facts have been long known, yet it was 
onl} T in 1901 that there was much disposition among well-known cap¬ 
italists, to take practical steps to establish factories on the Orinoco, in 
Barcelona, and in the Guarico State. 


INDEX TO CHAPTER VIII. 


Page. 

Manufacturing and other industries.. 257 

Principal manufacturing cities. 257 

Main industries. 257 

Breweries. 257 

Butter and lard. 258 

Chemical tests of butter and lard. 258 

Cheese manufactories. 259 

Chocolate manufactory. 259 

Cigarette factories. 259 * 

Cotton goods manufactory. 260 

Valencia factory. 260 

Decision relative to cotton goods. 260 

Electric power plants. 261 

Caracas. 261 

Maracaibo. 261 

Valencia. 261 

Puerto Cabello.:. 261 

Emulsion factory. 261 

Leather manufactory. 262 

Match factories. 262 

Paper factory. 262 

Porcelain factories. 263 

Shoe factories. 264 

Silk spinning spiders. 264 

Steam laundry. 264 

Other manufactories and industries. 264 

Industries. 265 

Pearl industry. 266 

Hat trade of Venezuela. 267 

Market for United States manufacturers...^ 268 

Market for agricultural implements. 26l) 

Caracas warehouse. 270 

Business opportunities. 270 

• Manufactures. 270 

Industries .. 271 






































CHAPTER IX. 


COMMERCE, STATISTICAL DATA, LAWS, CUSTOMS TARIFF. 

COMMERCE. 

Commerce in the sixteenth century.— When the Spaniards arrived in 
Venezuela there existed but one aboriginal nation, the Caribbean, 
which engaged in trade. 

Commerce with the mainland was carried on principally with the 
province of Caracas and consisted chiefly in pearl fisheries which made 
renowned, in the sixteenth century, the islands of Margarita, Cubagua, 
Coche, and Punta-Araya. In 1530 this commerce aggregated $800,000. 

The first commercial intercourse between Venezuela and Spain took 
place in 1560, when a ship loaded with goods was allowed to make an 
annual trip from the mother country. 

In the seventeenth century. —The Dutch residents of Curasao in 1634 
began to barter with the colonists cacao and hides for European goods 
to such an extent that the metropolitan government decreed its sup¬ 
pression which gave rise to clandestine commerce. 

In the eighteenth century. —In 1728 Philip V established the so-called 
u Guipuzcoan Company ” which was entitled to send every year two 
ships to Venezuela laden with Spanish products which were to be 
landed at La Guaira. In 1734 the company was allowed to send as 
many ships as it thought necessary, and in 1742 it obtained the 
monopoly of the commerce of the province of Caracas, which measure 
brought about a revolution in 1749. 

The regulations of free commerce enacted in 1778 dissolved the 
Guipuzcoan Company, but the Philippine Company was its successor 
until 1780, when it ceased by royal order. 

In 1796 forty-three ships arrived at La Guaira. Imports amounted 
to $3,115,811 and produced $281,328 customs duty. Thirty-seven ships 
exported $2,098,316 worth of merchandise which paid $138,052 export 
duty. 

From 1786 to 1796 the exports of coffee were as follows: 


Coffee exports, 1786-1796. 


Year. 

Weight. 

117 on . . 

Quintals. 

934 

17Q1 17Q5 . . . 

10,905 


4,849 




4a—04—18 273 


















274 


VENEZUELA. 


In 1797 the King opened the ports of Spanish America to foreign 
commerce. 

In 1800 the ports were closed by royal decree. 

In the nineteenth century.—In 1801 the captain-general opened the 
ports during six months. 

In 1808 coffee exports amounted to 60,745 quintals. 

In 1810, just before the declaration of independence, the exports of 
Venezuela reached $4,776,500, thus distributed: 


Articles. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Cacao.fanegas.. 

Indigo.pounds.. 

Vanilla.do_ 

Sarsaparilla.do- 

Hides. 

130,000 
40,000 
80, 000 
1,000,000 
150,000 
100,000 
130,000 
200,000 
6,000 
18,000 
800,000 

a $1,625,000 
480,000 
800,010 
1,250,000 
7,500 
6,000 
130,000 
2,000 
180,000 
216,000 
80,000 

Horns. 

Horses and mules . 

Horned cattle. 

Copper.pounds.. 

Total. 

. 4, 776,500 


« Dollars. 

Commerce in 1831.—In 1831, after Venezuela separated from Greater 
Colombia and became a Republic, its imports amounted to $2,047,026.49 
and its exports to $2,169,207.36, the total movement of commerce 
being $4,216,233.77. This trade was carried on through 8 ports and 
in 834 vessels, of which 407 were national and 427 foreign. 

Imports and exports from 1831 to 1842.—The following table shows 
the imports and exports of Venezuela from 1831 to 1842: 


Y ear. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Excess of 
exports. 

Excess of 
imports. 

1831. 

a $2,047, 000 
2,686,000 
2,638,000 
2,637, 000 
2,800,000 
2,465,000 
3,744,000 
2,444,000 
3,442,000 
4,973, 000 
5,920,000 
5,044,000 

a *2,169,000 
2,286, 000 
2,418, 000 
2, 716,000 
2,662, 000 
3,279,000 
3,955, 000 
3,407, 000 
4,297,000 
4,751,000 
4,928, 000 
6,082, 000 

a $122,000 


1832 . 

« $400,000 
220,000 

1833 . 


1834 . 

79,000 

1835. 

138,000 

1836 . 

814,000 
211,000 
963,000 
855,000 

1837 . 


1838. 


1839. 


1840. 

222,000 
992,000 

1841. 


1842 . 

1,038,000 




« One venezolano has been taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


As Venezuela is principally an agricultural country the vast extent 
of its area, the fertility of its soil, the wealth and diversity of its 
products, and proximity to the United States and European markets 
give it a great commercial advantage over other tropical countries. 
For this reason its export commerce became more developed than its 
import because the country produces, without difficulty, the commodi¬ 
ties which other countries need. This excess of exports over imports 
amounted to over $3,000,000 from 1831 to 1842, as shown by the fore¬ 
going table. 
































































Handbook of Venezuela. 



VIEW OF BARQUISIMETO. 








COMMERCE 1843-18(50. 


275 


Commerce in 1843-1849. —Venezuelan commerce began to increase in 
1843, due to the law which organized navigation and gave access to the 
ports of the Republic. This law taxed all foreign ships with 8 cents 
per metric ton on arrival at the first port and 4 cents for the following 
ports. Light-houses were also erected on the coast. In 1845 it was 
required to present manifests at the Venezuelan custom-houses. In 
1849 the custom-house regulations were comprised under the seven 
following laws passed by Congress: 

Navigation.—(1) Open ports; (2) port dues; (3) coast trade. 

Custom-houses.—(4) Importation, exportation; (5) custom-house regulations and 
mode of payment; (6) customs tariffs. 

Bonuses.—(7) Shipbuilding. 


According to the first law (open ports) the following 14 ports were 
open to import and export commerce, viz: Ciudad Bolivar, Cumana, 
Carupano, Barrancas, Barcelona, Soledad (Bar), La Guiara, Higuerote, 
Puerto Colombia, La Vela, Maracaibo, Juan Griego, and Pampatar. 

Only for local import trade the following: Cariaquito, Rio Caribe, 
and Cano Colorado. 

Only for export trade the following: Sazarida, Andicora Cumarebo, 
and Guay ana la vieja. 

The second law (port dues) provided for port dues according to ton¬ 
nage, excepting men-of-war and when merchantmen were undergoing 
repairs or put into port in distress. The same law established port 
fees for the captaincy' of the port, doctors, sanitary visit, anchorage, 
pilotage, fresh-water supply, and navigation permit. 

The third law (coast trade) prescribed similar dues, but only author¬ 
ized Venezuelan vessels to carry on the coast trade. 

The three following laws (importation and exportation, custom¬ 
house regulations, and custom tariffs) regulated the custom duties and 
how they were to be paid. 

The last law (shipbuilding) established the bonus to be paid for ships 
constructed in Venezuela. 

Commerce in 1854-1856. —Due to the foregoing measures, commerce 
increased so considerably that Congress passed, in 1854, a new law, 
modifying and simplifying the opening of ports, and on April 28 of 
said year the Federal power adopted more rigorous custom formal¬ 
ities. On May 18, 1855, Congress passed a law favoring immigration 
in order to develop the national industries and agricultural enterprises 
and the increase in domestic and foreign commercial intercourse. In 
1856 the customs dues were modified and increased. 

Commerce in 1858-1860.— In 1858 Congress repealed all former cus¬ 
toms laws and import and export formalities, suppressed many diffi¬ 
culties, and published the customs tariff, containing an alphabetical 
list of all articles liable to be imported, and established uniformity of 
weight, measure, and designation to serve as a basis for collecting cus- 


276 


VENEZUELA. 


toms duties. The same law established the procedure for seizure of 
goods and punishment of defrauders. In 1858 and 1860 the customs 
tariffs were modified and commerce began to increase. 

Imports and exports from 1843 to 1860.—The following table gives 
the imports and exports of Venezuela from 1843 to 1860: 


Year. 


Imports. 


Exports. 


Excess of 
exports. 


1843 

1844 

1845 

1846 

1847 

1848 

1849 

1850 

1851 

1852 

1853 

1854 

1855 
1860 


«$ 4 , 086 , 000 
3 , 527 , 000 
3 , 969,000 
4 , 349,000 
4 , 209,000 
2 , 985 , 000 
2 , 186 , 000 
3 , 319 , 000 
4 , 473,000 
4 , 775,000 
3 , 750,000 
4 , 554,000 
6 , 242,000 
6 , 807 , 000 


a $ 5 , 418,000 
4 , 773 , 000 
4 , 474,000 
5 , 696 , 000 
5 , 218,000 
4 , 447,000 

4 , 428,000 
4 , 791,000 

5 , 060 , 000 
4 , 809,000 
4 , 790,000 
5 , 712,000 
6,866,000 
8 , 628,000 


a $ 1 , 332,000 
1 , 246,000 
505,000 
1 , 347,000 
919,000 
1 , 462,000 
2 , 242 , 000 
1 , 472,000 
587,000 
34,000 
1 , 040,000 
1 , 158,000 
624,000 
1 , 821,000 


« One venezolano has been taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 

During the seventeen years taken into consideration in the foregoing 
table Venezuela imported in round figures $60,000,000 and exported 
$75,000,000, which gives an excess of exports of $15,000,000. 

Commerce in 1867.—The percentage of imports to Venezuela in 1867, 
according to countries, was as follows: 

Percent 
of imports. 


Great Britain. 3. 3 

Hanseatic cities..'. 19. 9 

France. 17 

United States . 10. 7 

Denmark. 10 

Netherlands. 3. 6 

Spain. 3.6 

Italy.4 

Miscellaneous. • .9 


The percentage of exports was as follows: 

Per cent 
of exports. 


Hanseatic cities. 39 

France.... 28.8 

United States ...-.. 12. 3 

Spain. 9. 6 

Great Britain. 4. 2 

Denmark. 4 

Netherlands_;.2 


The principal articles exported in 1867 and their values were as 
follows: 


Coffee .. 
Cotton . 
Cacao .. 
Hides .. 
Tobacco 


$4, 600, U00 
1, 600, 000 
1, 200, 000 
520, 000 
400, 000 



















































COMMERCE 1872-18 ,'5. 


277 


The average number of vessels which called at La Guaira was 259 
and at Puerto Cabello 389, and their aggregate tonnage amounted to 
200,000 tons. 

Commerce in 1872.—The declared value of imports and exports of 
merchandise in 1872 at the custom-houses of Venezuela and the coun¬ 
tries whence they were imported and to which they were exported are 
given in the following table: 


Country. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

German v. 

n 82,040,000 
1,300,000 
840,000 
660, 000 
240, 000 
160,000 
400,000 

« $3,320,000 
320,0U0 
2,340,000 
1,440,000 
980,000 
40,000 
160,000 

Great Britain. 

United States. 

France. 

Spain. 

Netherlands. 

Other countries. 

Total. 

5, 640,000 

8,600,000 



«One venezolano taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


Commerce in 1875.—The value and weight of merchandise imported 
into and exported from Venezuela in 1875, and the countries from 
which they were imported and to which they were exported, are given 
in the following tables: 


Imports in 1875, according to countries, giving weights and values. 


Imported from— 

Kilograms. 

Value. 

United States. 

13,458, 243i 
6,212,541 
4,793,889| 
4,185, 508 
3,717,8451 
2,424,345| 
2,128, 3831 
513, 2161 
353, 900j 
203,667J 
172,187 
63, 455J 

a $2,102,489.00 
1,934,391.75 
1,980,432.73 
1,129,681.21 
1,815 982.00 
668,358.82 
228,424.19 
295, 798. 43 
94,092. 87 
166, 906.14 
83, 688. 48 
26,061.50 

Germany.. 

Dutch colonies. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

British colonies. 

Spain. 

Colombia. 

Italy. 

Danish colonies. 

Spanish colonies. 

French colonies. 

Total. 

38,227,183i 

10,586, 307.12 



a One venezolano taken as an equivalent of the United States dollar. 


The goods to which the foregoing table refers were introduced in 
Venezuela through the custom-houses of the following 11 ports: La 
Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Coro, Maracaibo, San Carlos (Zulia), Ciudad 
Bolivar, Tachira, La Vela, Carupano, Maturm, Puerto Sucre, Puerto 
Guzman Blanco, Giiiria, and Pampatar. 














































278 


VENEZUELA. 


Exports in 1875 , according to countries, giving weights and values. 


Exported to— 

Kilograms. 

Value. 

Germany. 

14,870,158 
9,821,6191 
10,138,762$ 
10,598,329 

a $5,449,752.86 

United States. . 

3, 799,370.81 
2,642,960. 67 

Dutch colonies. 

France. 

2,598,033.19 

British colonies. 

1,973,321$ 
2,819, 253 
1,309,175 

1,455,959.48 

Colombia. . .. . . 

505,007. 22 
396,314.44 

Spain. 

Great Britain. 

2,220, 297 

290, 975. 60 

French colonies. 

350,166 

87, 677. 21 

Italy. 

648,625 
137, 754 
32, 740 

48,618. 70 
19,512. 64 

Danish colonies. 

Spanish colonies. 

9,868.08 


Total. 

54,920,201 

17,304,050.90 



a One venezolano taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


The products of Venezuela to which the foregoing table refers were 
exported through the custom-houses of the following 12 ports: La 
Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Maracaibo, Ciudad Bolivar, Puerto Sucre, 
Pampatar, Carupano, La Vela, Giiiria, Tachira, Maturin, and Puerto 
Guzman Blanco. 


Weights and values o f products exported in 1875. 


Product. 

Kilograms. 

Values. 

Coffee. 

35,721,130 
4,328,577 
5,037$ 
1, 609$ 
2,347,315 
456,644 
183, 571 
717, 710 
6, 604, 901 
441,738 
17,249 
4,094,719 

a 811,720,809.91 
1,400,670.19 
1,144,862.86 
942,946.97 
596,468.99 
311,013.93 
146, 994. 50 
255,165.72 
120,833.34 
61,880.66 
20,594.67 
581,809.16 

Cacao. 

Bullion.. 

Gold in bars. 

Cotton. 

Goatskins. 

Deerskins. 

Hides.. 

Dyewoods. 

Tobacco . 

Indigo. 

Other products. 

Total. 

54,920,201 

17,304,050. 90 



a One venezolano taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


Commerce in 1884.—According to the law passed by Congress on 
December 31,1883, merchandise imported from foreign countries was 
divided into nine classes, and duties levied on them according to the 
following tariff: 

[Per kilogram.] 


First class ... 

Second class . 
Third class... 
Fourth class . 
Fifth class ... 
Sixth class... 
Seventh class 
Eighth class . 
Ninth class .. 


Free of duty. 

Bolivars. 

. 0 . 10 

.25 

.75 

. 1.25 

. 2.50 

. 5.00 

.10.00 

.20.00 

























































COMMERCE 1887-1888. 279 

The total imports in 1884: amounted to $17,253,000 and the exports 
to $19,494,000, there being an excess of exports of $2,479,000. 

Commerce in 1887-88.—The declared value of imports and exports of 
merchandise in the year 1887-88 at the custom-houses of Venezuela, 
and the countries from where they were imported and to which they 
were exported, are given in the following tables: 

1887. 


Country. 

Imports. l Exports. 

United States. 

a 84,972,575. 90 
3,548,896.09 
2, 611,872.00 
2,062,255. 89 
487,173. 69 
306,809.50 
268,671.31 
111,646.81 
101,208.40 
95,144.28 
41,406.88 

a 87,577,729. 06 
761,088.88 
3,081,416.90 
2,246,659. 68 

Great Britain. 

France. 

Germany. 

Colombia. 

British colonies. 


Spain. 

33,561.00 

Dutch colonies. 

Italy. 

6,592.00 
243,116.00 

Netherlands. 

Spanish colonies. 

West Indies. 

3,289,144.61 
9,741.00 

Other countries. 

26,713.96 

Total. 

14,638,374.71 

18,128,449.13 



« Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


1888. 


Country. 

* 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Great Britain. 

a 84, 702,022. 76 
3,948, 764.95 
2, 692,078.12 
2,530,355.57 
869, 495.49 
436,820.87 
364,251.30 
162,355.51 
50, 354. 00 
38,579.11 

a 8663,793.19 
9,123,499. 97 
2,009,377.20 
3,041,961.98 
825.00 
1,885,309.21 
43, 728.00 
59, 938. 00 
45,210. 00 
9,351.00 

United States. 

Germany. 

France. 

Colombia. 

West Indies. 

Spain. 

Netherlands. 


Other countries. 

Total. 

15,793,074. 68 

18, 793,993. 55 



« Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


The foregoing tables show that the United States, Great Britain, 
France, and Germany are the four principal countries with which 
Venezuela carried on the largest amount of commerce in 1887 and 
1888. 

The coasting trade between all the ports of Venezuela in the years 
1887 and 1888 was as follows: 



1887. 

1888. 

Kilos. 

Values. 

Kilos. 

Values. 

Incoming... 

50,072,645 
35, 259,991 

a 88, 791,159. 82 
9,162,040.04 

52,375,748 
32, 652,381 

<» $8,991,806.19 
9,148,384. 55 

Outgoing. 

Total. 

85,332,636 

19, 953, 399. 86 

85,028,129 

18,140,190. 74 



« Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the U. S. dollar. 



















































































280 


VENEZUELA 


The total commercial activity of Venezuela in 1887 and 1888 
amounted, therefore, to $102,694,749.85, distributed as follows: 


Year. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Coasting trade. 

Total. 

1887 . 

ft $14,638,376. 02 
15,792,657.73 

ft $18,128,099. 76 
18,042,025. 71 

a $17,953,399.86 
18,140,190. 74 

ft $50, 719,875.64 
51,974,874.26 

1888 . 

Total. 

30,431,033. 75 

36,170,125.47 

36,093,590.60 

102, 694,749.85 



a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


Coffee exports, 1831-1888.—The following- table shows the coffee 
exports from Venezuela from 1831 to 1888: 


Year. 

Weight. 

Value. 

1835.do.... 

1840.do.... 

1845.'..do.... 

1850.do- 

1855.do_ 

11,544,024 
5,952,721 
19,126,156 
29,034,771 
30,977,644 
37,745, 328 
37,983,885 
28,152,299 
34,273,214 
32,846, 769 
42, 798,623 
41,721,941 
43,101,616 

« $1, 063,445.85 
711,833.52 
1,938,116.17 
2,372,669.30 
2,347,125. 78 

I860.do_ 


1865.do.... 


1873.kilos.. 

1876.do.... 

1882.do_ 

1887 .do.... 

1888 .do_ 

11,995,624.00 
11,409,506. 98 
7, 778,460. 20 
9,890,5,55.00 
11,989, 389.60 


a Dollars. 


Cacao exports, 1700-1888. 


Year. 

Weight. 

Value. 

1700. 


.fanegas.. 

30,000 
85,659 
193, 000 
7,215,340 
7,346,329 
7,232,220 


1763. 


.do_ 


1800.. 


.do_ 


1830. 

1850. 

1888. 


.pounds.. 

.do_ 

a 975,089.00 
ft 1,885,340.00 
$10,495,137.00 


a Pesos. 


Tobacco—Exports, 1831-1887 . 


Year. 

Weight. 

Value. 

1831.pounds.. 

1840.do_ 

1850.do_ 

101, 450 
1,197,476 
1,520, 590 
540,923 
153,307 
613,353 
367,288 

(*30,688.00 
ftl47,184.00 
o 143,675.00 

1875.kilos.. 

1882.do_ 

1887.do.... 

b $23, 782.00 
$67,825.60 
$54,283.40 


Sugar-cane products — Exports, 1831-1887. 


Year. 

Weight. 

Value. 

1840.do.... 

1850.do.... 

1872.kilos.. 

1882.do.... 

1887.do.... 

Ill,660 
404,629 
261,494 
2,371,575 
25,546 
501,041 

ft 20,047.00 
ft 48,371.00 
(<21,002.00 
b $237,157.00 
$8,697.00 
$27,271.00 


a Pesos. 


b Dollars. 






























































































COMMERCE 1893-1896. 


281 


Cattle, hides, and skins — Exports, 1831-1888. 


Y ear. 

Cattle. 

Hides. 

Skins. 

Number. 

Value. 

Number. 

Value. 

Number. 

Value. 

1831. 

1,825 
4,563 
9,968 
17,661 
13,626 
13,960 

b $25,080 
93,980 
190, 294 
175,818 
89,626 

76,671 
53,083 
163,837 
358,991 
393, 394 
646,473 
389,893 
209, 720 
a 717, 710 
a 1,395,098 
« 2,624,433 
n 2,268, 466 
a 2,274,294 

*>$135,457 
130,328 
351,311 
741,756 
614,801 

132,346 
78,165 
425,667 
463,219 
494,068 
386,413 
486,405 
209, 738 
a 640, 215 
a 1,009, 454 
n881,462 
o 670, 778 
a 773,093 

{>$27,012 
48, 601 
148,343 
150, 503 
194,456 

1835. 

1840 . 

1845 . 

1850... : t . 

1855 . 

1860 . 




1865 . 

4,595 




1875 . 


255,165 
410,275 
739,062 
607,243 
569,387 

458,008 
726,098 
575,545 
404,107 
492,179 

1882 . 

5,929 
6,975 
10,381 
12,582 

192,655 
. 125,637 
228, 799 
297, 319 

1886 . 

1887 . 

1888 . 



« Kilos. b Dollars. 


Commerce in 1893.—In 1893 Venezuela imported the following 
amounts: From the United States, $4,207,661; from France, $2,335,300; 
from Great Britain, $1,553,287; and from Germany, $2,000,000 more 
or less, according to the statistics of the Treasuiy of the United States. 

According to the same statistics Venezuela exported the following 
amounts: To Germany, $8,500,000; to France, $8,395,000; to Trini¬ 
dad, $1,500,000; and to Great Britain, $136,103. 

Commerce in 1896-97.—The decree of June 30, 1896, was conceived 
according to the same principles of the law of 1883, and onl} T modified 
the classification of some articles; but it embodied in the customs regu¬ 
lations the prohibition of introducing certain articles which might be 
prejudicial to similar domestic products. This was the first time that 
the protection ist system was implanted in Venezuela. 

In 1896 nearly six-sevenths in value of imports were subject to duty. 
The chief exports were coffee, cacao, hides and skins, live stock, 
timber, cocoanuts. Gold in bars was exported to the value of 
$722,000, and currency amounting to $121,000. 

Imports of cotton goods into Venezuela in 1896 were; Great Britain, 
$651,967; Germany, $187,662; France, $85,199; United States, $702,511. 

The following table gives the exports of Venezuela in 1897, accord¬ 
ing to countries, number of packages, weights, and values: 


Country. 

Packages. 

Weight. 

Value. 

United States. 

371,227 
378,505 
135, 947 
16,642 
15,135 
3,227, 268 
327, 452 
5,705 

Kilos. 
19,502,444 
21,699, 271 
6,518, 223 
979,493 
1,042,993 
8,830, 821 
26, 764, 270 
501,799 

a $3, T>40,680 
5,352,025 
1,761,817 
189,584 
186,458 
1,624,860 
5,929,453 
64,186 

Fra.nr.fi and eolonies. 

Germany. 

Italy 

Spain and colonies. 

Great. "Rri tain and eolonies. 

Holland and eolonies . 

Other countries. 

Total . 

4,477,881 

85,839,316 

18,648,968 



a Dollars. 


The export trade given in the foregoing’ table was effected through 
eleven custom-houses of Venezuela. 

According to a British foreign office report (annual series 2091) the 












































































282 


VENEZUELA. 


imports into Venezuela in 1896-97 from the United States, England, 
and Germany represent, respectively, about 41, 31, and 21 per cent of 
the total. The following details as to trade in 1897 are taxen from the 
official returns of the countries named: 

Great Britain: Principal articles of import, feathers ($175,194) and 
rubber ($58,398). Principal articles of export: Cottons, $1,806,605; 
manufactures of jute, $116,796; linens, $111,930; woolens, $121,663; 
tools and machinery, $121,663; iron and articles of, $136,262. 

Germany: Principal imports: Divi-divi, $107,100; skins, $81,158; 
rubber, $50,932; cotfee, $1,718,110; cacao, $305,164. Exports: Cot¬ 
tons, $128,758; hosiery, etc., $52,360; iron articles and machinery, 
$168,980; cement, $29,274; beer and malt, $114,716; porcelain, $60,452; 
clothing, $29,750. 

France: Chief articles of import: Cotfee, $4,250,000; cacao, $1,620,- 
000. Exports: Tools and articles of iron, $436,000; wines, $97,000; 
cottons, $87,000. 

The United States: Trade by articles is not stated for 1897, but 
according to United States Treasury figures for 1896 the chief arti¬ 
cles of import and export were: Imports: Cotfee, $8,128,254; cacao, 
$125,478; skins, $1,107,411. Exports: Flour, $812,192; cottons, $668,- 
306; machines and articles of iron, $471,417; illuminating oils, $142,053; 
lard, $452,870. 

The United States consul at La Guaira states in a report that his 
country leads in Hour, hams, lard, butter, spices, kerosene, marble, 
and lumber, paper, caustic potash, and rosin, barbed wire, salted 
meats, crackers and biscuits, and machinery. England is first in coal, 
cement, hardware, agricultural and artisans’ tools, iron (raw), sewing- 
thread, bleached cotton and passementerie, cotton cloth, and tin plate. 
Germany has control of the trade in stationery, rice, cigars, cigarettes, 
and tobacco, beer, drugs and medicines, crockery and glassware, cheese, 
and candles, candies and sweets, perfumery, silk, and woolen goods. 

Exports from New York to Venezuela during the year 1897.—The fol¬ 
lowing table gives a general resume of the shipments of merchandise 
from the port of New York to Venezuelan ports during the } T ear 1897, 
from data supplied by the consul-general of Venezuela at New York: 


Port. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Value. 

La Guaira. 

310,513 
166,694 

18,709,410 
7,087,263 

m, 354,308. 76 
570, 666.91 
650,331.00 
280,172.96 
111,883.95 
74,618.24 
21,417. 46 
17,513.56 
6,873.00 
2,553. 35 
1,326.00 
91,351.67 

Puerto Cabello. 

Maracaibo. 

101,295 
77,120 

6,156,558 
3,458,644 
2,036, 703 
852,058 
270,710 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

La Vela de Coro. 

45,033 
19,065 
5 ,106 
3,781 
1,788 
363 

Carupano. 

Guanta. 

Cimand. 

205 561 

Cano Colorado. 

107,341 

Maturin. 

31,715 

16,784 

151 

Guiria. 

347 

Maracaibo (gold). 

18 


Total. 

731,121 

38, 932,898 

3,183,016.86 



« Dollars. 



























COMMERCE 1897-1898. 


283 


CARACAS DISTRICT TRADE, 1897. 


From the annual report of the acting consul of Great Britain at 
Caracas to the British foreign office, the following information 
relating to the trade of Caracas and that consular district is taken: 
The coffee estates in the country number about 33,000, and those of 
cacao about 5,000. These two products represent the chief agricul¬ 
tural staples of the Republic. The high protective tariff (practically 
prohibitive) placed upon sugar, has stimulated the planting of the 
sugar cane to the extent that there are now 11,000 cane estates, and it 
is anticipated that this culture will speedily take a prominent place in 
the agricultural features of the country. The great desideratum to 
the progress of the country is immigration of a class which will go 
into the country and help develop the agricultural resources. 

On the subject of the development of trade with Venezuela and the 
agency therein of the National Association of Manufacturers of the 
United States, the following extract from the report is made: 

u The Americans are taking a great hold on the Venezuelan market. 
They are not so conservative as their competitors and their business 
methods are quicker, but the principal reason seems to be that they 
are so much nearer the market. This suits the Venezuelan business 
man, who does not keep a large stock on hand, but who renews the 
supply just when it is required. 

“The most important move in the direction of developing the com¬ 
mercial relations between the United States and Venezuela is that 
made by the National Association of Manufacturers, which has its 
seat at Philadelphia. In the beginning of the year 1896 an agent was 
sent out to Venezuela to make an agreement for the establishment of 
a sample warehouse or permanent show room where American manu¬ 
factures could be introduced to the market under the most favorable 
conditions.” 


CARACAS DISTRICT TRADE, 1898. 

The British foreign office published (annual series 2315, pp. 11—18) 
the report on trade and commerce of Venezuela foi 1898 from the 
British acting consul at Caracas, from which report the following is 
an abstract: 

Plans for new branch of agriculture.—Everyone here is now alive to 
the necessity of trying some other branch of agriculture which will 
be more in demand, and, therefore, more profitable than coffee. 
Many are the schemes and various the plans which have been dis¬ 
cussed in the press, but up to the present nothing definite has been 
realized, owing to the want of capital and experienced laborers. 

Tobacco.—Great attention has been attracted by the ideas expressed 
that Venezuela has soil adapted for producing tobacco equal to that 


VENEZUELA. 


284 

grown iu CuUi. Thi- would be. indeed, a great boon for the country, 
-eeing that enorinou> quantities of tobacco are annually consumed 
here, where the habit of smoking i> universal. In Venezuela, tobacco 
ha- alway- been grown, but on a -mall scale. It is now -uggested 
that it -hould l>e made a -taple product. 

Fruit farming. — The example of Central American States. Jamaica, 
etc., i- adduced to show the value of tropical fruit farming. There 
is no doubt that immense tracts of land on the seacoast which now lie 
wa-te could be profitably tilled and made to produce plantains, 
bananas, pineapple-, etc., for export to the United State-, where a 
ready market i- alway- to be had. 

Foreign trade.—In a report just published by the minister of agri¬ 
culture and commerce of the imports through the custom-house at La 
Guaira. themo-t important in the Republic, during the year 1S97-9S. it 
would appeal that the United States takes the lead both in weight and 
value. This must naturally be attributed to the proximity of the two 
countries. Next. Great Britain in weight, and Germanv third, but in 
value the po-ition i- reversed and Germany is second. The synthesis 
of the report i- as follows: 


Country. Quantity. Value. 


Ton*. 

United States. 15.309 £277,976 

Great Britain. 15.023 169,470 

Germany. S.S92 172,016 


The »alance of the trade through La Guaira. amounting to 6.796 
ton-, valued at £312,967, is shared among France, Spain. Holland, and 
Italy, the relative importance being in the order in which the countries 
are mentioned. 

From thi- report it i- evident that, so far as this part of the Repub¬ 
lic i- concerned. England hold- the entire trade in coal, baize and 
flannel, shirting, cotton cloth and calicoes, unbleached cottons and 
drills. 

The hgnre- in the report are as follows: 



- 

Great Britain. 

United States. 

Germany. 

Shining. 

COOOQ5... 


Ton*. 

. 245 

. $04 

Ton*. 

15 

93 

Tone. 

10 

8S 


England i- also first in agricultural machinery, but is second in 
hardware and railway material. Germany is first in household iron¬ 
ware and in tool-. 

The United State- take- the largest share, not to say the whole of 
the trade, in oils and provisions. This is but natural, owing to the 


















COMMERCE 1897-1898 


285 


facility of communication, which allows the articles to come fresher, if 
even they were not cheaper, which I believe they are. Wines of 
course come primarily from Spain, France ranking* next in this supply. 

LA GTJALRA, 1898. 


Imports, 1898-1897 .—The following table shows the goods imported 
into La Guaira, with countries from which the goods were shipped 
during the years 1898-1897: 

IMPORTS. 


From— 

1898. 

1897. 

Germany. 

Packages. 
r58,480 
9,569 
35 
105 
61.761 
229,196 
32,164 
21,077 
49,193 
10, 242 

Kilos. 

7,186,937 
1, 555,223 
3,106 
8,085 
2,477,586 
19,376,427 
1,976,711 
2,356,948 
14,203,220 
774,272 

Packages. 
204,061 
9,422 
67 
70 
50,682 
306,715 
33,604 
18,045 
67,718 
12,118 

Kilos. 

10,054,997 
948,229 
9,378 
8,042 
2,204,857 
21,884,216 
2, 228,492 
1,357,806 
20,121,311 
1,001,066 

Belgium. 

Colombia. 

Denmark. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Holland. 

Great Britain. 

Italy ... 

Total . 


49,918,515 
59,818,394 


59,818,394 

Total 1897. 



Decrease. 





9,899,879 








Coasting trade in La Guaira during the fiscal year 1898. 


IMPORTS. 


Merchandise 

Timber. 

Coal. 


Kilos. 

17, 022, 596 
2,188, 057 
337, 216 


Total 


19, 547, 869 


EXPORTS. 


Month. 

Quantity. 

Total. 

Coffee. 

Cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundries. 

Vessels. 

Quantity. 


Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

• 

Kilos. 

Number. 

Kilos. 

January . 

548,111 

287,690 

86,705 

61,675 

14 

984,181 

February . 

1,271,700 

451,624 

63, 415 

29,212 

13 

1,815,951 

March. 

2,590,494 

702,576 

82, 273 

17,494 

13 

3,392,837 

April.,. 

3,676,268 

778,211 

63,417 

16,028 

14 

4,533,924 

May. 

2,570, 998 

971,114 

121, 605 

26, 369 

13 

3,690,086 

June. 

1,159,574 

693, 202 

81,089 

57,483 

13 

1,991,348 

July. 

362,921 

274,483 

133,159 

33,928 

10 

804,491 

August. 

287,110 

494,716 

35,866 

37,591 

9 

855,283 

September. 

141,305 

282,282 

128,706 

18,031 

11 

570, 324 

October. 

74,225 

90,442 

54,637 

15,309 

13 

234,613 

November. 

251,340 

103, 747 

47,371 

10,017 

10 

412,475 

December. 

874,912 

160,079 

65,194 

33, 470 

11 

1,133,655 

Total. 

13,808,958 

5,290,166 

963,437 

356,607 

144 

20,419,168 









































































286 


VENEZUELA. 


PUERTO CABELLO TRADE. 1898. 

The British vice-consul at Puerto Ca hello reports follow- a>-tract : 


IMP' >RTS. 


F rv>m— 


Value. 


IS37. ISS*-. 


Great Britain 
Germany .... 
United States 

France. 

Spain. 

Holland. 

Belgium. 

Italy. 

Colombia 
Cuba. 


Total 


/ (L 

138.S1S 5 002.700 

116. 170 0 7S.440 

110 . 7 a io ies.9io 

V, - ;> 

. ' 1_ A 

3 19. 091 

4.930 5 1. 60S 

. ' .A 

1.087 3 . 

. S» 


4-56 . >53 1 425.140 


The increase in the trade with the United States B due to the quicker 
communication between the two countries, and the cheaper price' there 
for dry goods, in which England is losing ground here. 

•J n 7 ~ C «ZT 

Exports from this port amounted to: 

EXPORTS. 


Articles. 1S97. 1S95. 


KUr*. Kiiof- 

Coffee. 10.979.559 13,024.653 

Cacao.. . 232. 526 325. 547 

Hides. . 616 .754 53£>. 077 

Skins. 6S.S76 12A331 

Quina. d.5-4 1,047 

Copra.. ._. 127.230 


Total. 11.904.299 14.137.455 


Cattle...bead... 9.973 


MARACAIBO TRADE. 1898. 

The British vice-consul at Maracaibo reports as follow- abstract): 

The import goods in 1S98 amounted to 89S3.93b and the exports of 
all kinds amounted to 84.212.995. 

The export of hide> becomes from vear to vear larger. Accordincr 
to the list of exports in 1897, 30.950 hides were exported, while in 
1898 we had an export of 32.886 hides. 

In regard to the export of skin - there B ai'O a considerable improve¬ 
ment to notice. In 1898 the export amounted to si.241 kilo'. against 
40,883 kilos in 1897. 

Balsam of copaiba continues with a very perceptible increase. 
There were exported 35,77^ kilograms in 1898 against 22.467 kilograms 
in 1897. 

The export of fish sounds is increasing: last year 1>9 V 'bowing 
about double the quantity exported in 1897. 






































Handbook of Venezuela. 



LEGISLATIVE PALACE OF MARACAIBO. 
































COMMERCE 1898 


287 


The export of quina bark and divi-divi has become less than in former 
years, owing to its very low prices in the foreign markets. 

The asphaltum mines near the coast of Lake Maracaibo have 
attracted the attention of capitalists on account of their excellent 
quality. Export of heron plumes and rubber is increasing. 


General produce exported from Maracaibo during the year 1898. 


Date. 

Coffee. 

Cacao. 

Quina bark. 

Hides. 

Goatskins. 

January 7 to 25. 

February 4 to 26. 

March 9 to 31. 

April 6 to 30. 

Mav 10 to 27. 

Baqs. 
25,925 
30,803 
51,474 
73,646 
31,827 
22,830 
22,308 
39,481 
38,352 
40,453 
SO,743 
33,737 

Kilos. 
1,538,874 
1,856,959 
3,112,313 
4,403,590 
1,895,578 
1,354,445 
1,348,002 
2,386,150 
2,307, 632 
2,435,611 
1,829,914 
2,025,462 

Bags 

645 

615 

385 

194 

Kilos. 
30,245 
28,358 | 
18,716 | 
8,991 

Pkgs. 

51 

12 

35 

10 

Kilos. 

2,219 

513 

1,368 1 
441 

No. 

2, M5 

2,966 
1,324 

3.115 
1,346 

2. 271 

2,688 

2, 724 

3, 768 

4,368 

2.116 
3,385 

Kilos. 
35,224 
34,008 
15,327 
37,501 
15,772 
25,964 
28,487 
28,844 
44, 332 
52,279 
24, 476 
40,028 

Pkgs. 

85 

89 

81 

79 

6 

146 

118 

77 

80 
60 
74 

109 

Kilos. 
7,105 
6,469 
7,246 
6,616 
462 
11,260 
9,426 
5,956 
6,107 
5,435 
5, 709 
9,450 

June 4 to 18. 

July 6 to 23. 

August 3 to 29. 

September 6 to 21. 

October 1 to 24. 

November 4 to 23. 

December 2 to 30. 

Total. 

Against 1897 . 

242 

219 

148 

138 

154 

172 

95 

1,088 1 
9,899 
6,454 

6, 665 
7,116 
7,794 
4,609 

86 

20 

12 

40 

4 

4,087 j 

938 

637 

1, 656 

188 L 

441,579 
422,313 

26,494,530 
25,486,079 

3,007 

869 

129,935 
10,438 

270 

546 

12,047 
24,460 ^ 

12,8S6 
30,950 

382,242 
372, 901 

1,004 

494 

81,241 

40,883 

Date. 

Copaiba. 

Fustic,etc. 

Dividivi. Fish sounds. Brou n sugar. 

Deerskins. 

January 7 to 25. 

February 4 to 26. 

March 9 to 31. 

April 6 to 30. 

Mav 10 to 27. 

June 4 to 18. 

July 6 to 23. 

August 3 to 29. 

September 6 to 21. 

October 1 to 24. 

November 4 to 23. 

December 2 to 30. 

Total. 

Against 1897 . 

Bkgs. 

3 

16 

103 

149 

49 

157 

29 

98 

17 

76 

70 

102 

• 

Kilos. 
100 
649 
4,296 
6,204 
2,031 
6,475 
1,173 
4,030 
690 
3,066 
2,852 
4,212 

Kilos. 
555,922 
925,692 

1,105,757 
1,173,475 
710,057 
382,828 
357, 482 
462,167 
273,096 
263,200 
194,827 
145,962 

Kilos. 

13,800 
115,618 
203,483 

116,502 

200,985 
56,120 
95,519 

Pkgs. 

32 

108 

67 

44 

9 

40 

74 

42 

38 

28 

27 

76 

Kilos. 

1, 687 
6,274 
3,636 

2, 784 
360 

1,737 
4,186 
2,523 
6,284 
1,385 
2,554 
6,761 

Pkgs. 

905 

1,239 

1,130 

298 

748 

610 

751 

678 

788 

1,788 

1,746 

451 

Kilos. 
32,602 
53,620 
43,430 
13, 708 
31,18S 
25,100 
29,004 
27,871 
31,116 
69,768 
62, 548 
18, 420 

Pkgs. 

4 

7 
1 
1 

8 

1 

M 

7 

i 

i 

1 

2 

Kilos. 

247 

384 

125 

85 

655 

85 

631 

93 

81 

60 

110 

869 

549 

35,778 
22,467 

6,550,4tio 

5,246,022 

802,027 
2,392, 900 

585 

379 

40,171 
22,704 

11,132 
7,133 

438,375 
319,480 

34 

18 

2,556 
1,469 


CIUDAD BODIVAR TRADE, 1898. 


The British vice-consul at Ciudad Bolivar reports as follows (abstract): 
The trade and commerce of Ciudad Bolivar in 1898 seems to have 
been stationary as compared with 1897. 

Although it is difficult to trace the country from which the goods 


are originally imported it appears from reliable information that 
British manufactures continue to maintain their position in textiles. 

The United States and Germany take a large share of the trade in 
hardware, crockery, chemicals, drugs, oils, barbed wire, cement, per¬ 
fumes, and cutlery. 

Tne Yuruari gold mines produced 39,500 ounces of gold, which is 
less than in 1897. 


\ 



































































































288 


VENEZUELA. 


Imports of Ciudad Bolivar, 1898 and 1897. 


Country. 

1898. 

1897. 

Trinidad. 

United States. 

Germany. 

British Guiana. 

Total. 

£209,351 
7,768 
16.653 
28 

£171,986 

38,619 

33,223 

17 

233,800 

243,845 

Percentage of imports, 1898 and 1897. 

Year. 

Value. 

Percentage. 

Trinidad Other 

inniaaa. countnes 

Trinidad. 

Other 

countries. 

1898 . 

£209,351 £24,449 

171,986 71,859 

89* 

70i 

10* 
29 f 

1897 . 



Quantity and value of principal exports from Ciudad Bolivar, 1898 and 1897. 


Articles. 

1898. 

1897. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Copaiba oil.kilos.. 

Cacao.do_ 

Coffee.do_ 

Rubber (Para).do_ 

Rubber (Balata).do_ 

11,284 
40,920 
118,657 
70,502 
509,461 

£1,312 
2,235 
5,862 
16,398 
52,740 

14,945 
8,756 
256,605 

£1,686 
308 
12,434 

Rubber (Para and Balata).do_ 

338,742 
1,374,700 
65,026 
135 
1,353 
5,213 
109,355 
2,369 
10,278 
301 
86,328 

46.450 
70,339 
2,808 
416 
128,906 
1,175 
4,837 
25,810 
41,084 
1,027 
1,917 

Hides. do_ 

Deer skins.do_ 

Specie.do_ 

1,338,238 
27,917 

68,255 

1,416 

Gold bullion.do_ 

Tonka beans.do_ 

Tobacco.do_ 

Heron feathers.do_ 

Cattle.number.. 

Live animals (horses, etc).do_ 

Other articles.kilos.. 

Total. 

1.218 
107,111 
267. 718 
2,839 
8 ,944 
182 
58,017 

111,068 
19.247 
10.782 
20,708 
42,062 
679 
1,244 


354,008 


339,197 


Standing of Venezuelan merchants.—The British Foreign Office, 
annual series, 2315, publishes on page 11 the following statement of 
the British minister at Caracas (report for 1S9S) regarding the relia¬ 
bility of Venezuelan merchants, viz: 

“I hear from the various British commercial travelers that the Vene¬ 
zuelan houses with whom thev deal are thoroughlv trustworthy*, and 
they speak highly of their commercial integrity. The gentleman from 
whom 1 have just been quoting stated to me that he had had very large 
dealings with them during the last ten years, and had only written off 
£300 (his orders on this visit amount to over £25,000. a large amount for 
one house from one city). He states that more than 50 per cent of the 
trade is on prompt cash terms, and that he is completely satisfied with 
the manner of doing business.” 

Coffee crop of the world in 1898.—The following table will convey a 
fair impression of the production of coffee in the world in 1S98, as 

































































SUGGESTIONS TO EXPORTERS. 289 


ascertained from the estimates and reports of the several 
credited: 


sources 


Country. 


Brazil. 

Venezuela.. 

Guatemala. 

Haiti. 

Mexico. 

Costa Rica. 

Colombia. 

Puerto Rico. 

Salvador. 

British West Indies. 

Ecuador. 

Peru.. 

Santo Domingo. 

Dutch West Indies. 

Hawaii. 

Honduras. 

Bolivia. 

Paraguay. 

Dutch Guiana. 

Cuba. 

British Honduras (Belize) 

Total American .... 


Java. 

Ceylon and British India 

Pa'dang. 

Celebes. 


Total Asia and Africa 
Grand total. 


Pounds. 

Bags. 

Authority. 

1,533,810,000 

11,620,000 

United States consul. 

116,107,800 

881,877 

Exports, October to October. 

60,238, COO 

456,424 

Native estimate. 

57,000,000 

431,812 

Dun ring & Zoon. 

48,145,492 

364,729 

Official. 

35,461,407 

267,889 

Do. 

34,849,639 

264,770 

Estimated. 

26,400,000 

200,000 

Spanish estimate. 

16,500,000 

125,000 

Dunring & Zoon. 

13,200,000 

100,000 

Do. 

9,858,892 

74,681 

British report. 

2,733, 305 

20,707 

“ El Comercio.” 

2,400, 700 

18,187 

Belgian report. 

924,000 

7,000 

Estimated. 

726,000 

5,500 

Partly official. 

612,480 

4,640 

British estimate. 

495, 000 

3, 750 

Estimated. 

343,407 

2,602 

United States consul. 

219,166 

1,660 

British estimate. 

132,000 

1,000 

Estimated. 

132,000 

1,000 

Do. 

1,960,619,288 

14,853,228 


101,904,000 

772,000 

Dunring & Zoon. 

31,680,000 

240,000 

Do. 

5, 940, 000 

45,000 

Do. 

5,940, 000 

45,000 

Do. 

145,464,000 

1,102,000 


2,106,093, 288 

15,955,228 



As will be seen by the foregoing table Venezuela was second in 
1898 among the coffee-exporting countries of the world, her exports 
in this regard amounting to over 11(3,000,000 pounds. 

SUGGESTIONS TO EXPORTERS. 

The French consul at Caracas, in a report to his Government in 1898, 
made the following suggestions relative to the trade of the Republic: 

“Purchases are made here in the Easter and Christmas seasons. 
These are the periods at which the Venezuelan consumer likes to make 
his provisions of all kinds. The fact that the Christmas festivities pre¬ 
ceding the new year are coincident with the gathering of the coffee 
crop—the principal industry of the country—is sufficient reason why 
this date should be chosen. The choice of the Easter season is due 
onty to motives of a religious order; the rainy season is then coming 
on, which will render transport into the interior difficult. After these 
two seasons the current of business displays less activity; and our 
(French) exporters, to whom these observations are especially addressed 
on this subject, should always bear it in mind. By so doing they would 
enable the importers to avoid the unpleasantness of remaining with 
large stocks unsold, owing to the falling back in sales. 

“The requirements of the Venezuelan ‘Codigo de Hacienda,’ impose 
on manufacturers desirous of trading with this Republic the necessity 
of exercising precautions, of which I think it would be useful to give 


4a—04-19 


















































290 


VENEZUELA. 


a summary. They must not forget, for example, to declare in Spanish 
on the invoices the merchandise shipped, and to declare it in the terms 
of the tariff. I have seen a fine of 125 bolivars inflicted on a merchant 
who, having sent shapes of straw hats, had omitted to place on his 
declaration the translation, "sombreros de paja sin ningun adorno’ 
(untrimmed hats), the expression used in the tariff. They must also 
not omit to consult the customs tariff beforehand and to specify exactly 
what class the merchandise shipped comes under for payment of the 
import duties. It is also essential to remember that duty is charged on 
the gross weight of the merchandise. It is necessary in all shipments 
intended for Venezuela to use for packing only material that is both 
strong and light at the same time.” 


OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN ENTERPRISE. 


The consul of the United States at Puerto Cabello submitted in 1898 
to the Department of State an extended and interesting report on the 
opportunities for American enterprise and trade in Venezuela. He 
states that the trade in cutlery, glass, and earthenware, tiles, and kin¬ 
dred articles can be greatly increased, a medium and ordinary grade 
finding read} T sale. Owing to the high tariff on all tobaccos and the 
consequent development of native production and manufacture, the 
importation of that commodity has become greatly restricted, and it 
is thought that Venezuela will soon become an exporter. 

Within six miles of Puerto Cabello marble of a very fine quality 
has been discovered, and a plant costing over $50,000 has been erected 
for the development of the quarries. 

The coal used by the railways comes rnainty from England, but 
it is thought that if proper efforts were made, the coal from the 
Alabama and Virginia regions might be introduced into the country 
profitably. 

The following extract from the report bearing upon the intertrade 
of Venezuela and the United States, and containing valuable practical 
suggestions, is given: 

“ Our trade with this country is greatly hampered by the 
absence of American houses, banks, etc. It is almost needless to say 
that all large houses have their American connections, but it is obvi¬ 
ous that this does not supply the place of intercommunication between 
American houses in the United States and their branches here. 


i t 


One of our greatest trading difficulties might be more fully under¬ 


stood, generally advertised, and acquiesced in. I refer to the system 
of giving six, nine, or even twelve months’ credit, to enable the mer¬ 
chant to realize at ‘crop time.’ Banks being limited, and none at all 
in some places, merchants are at the mercy of the money lenders, if 
they must pa} T their bills in sixty or ninety da} T s, as with us, which 
means interest at the rate of 1 or 1^- per cent per month, and not 


COMMERCE 1899. 


291 


infrequently more. Rates of exchange could thus be more readily 
controlled, which, though seldom burdensome, sometimes reach an 
unreasonably high figure. The currency is upon a gold basis. The 
only notes that circulate are those of the local Bank of Venezuela. 

"The Government of Venezuela, being desirous of obtaining infor¬ 
mation of the arrival of ships from foreign ports, and of the contents 
of the consular invoices of their respective cargoes, in order to avoid 
delay until the minister of finance at Caracas should receive duplicates 
of the invoices from the consuls abroad, by some subsequent ship, 
the President of the Republic decrees: ‘That from April 1, 1898, 
importers of foreign merchandise shall present to the custom-house 
with their manifests the original of their respective consular invoices, 
also a plain copy of them, which the customs authorities shall remit 
to the department of finance with a note stating that said copies have 
been compared with their respective originals, at most six days after 
the arrival of the ship. 111 

Imports and exports from 1865 to 1898.—The following table shows 
the values of imports to and exports from Venezuela during twenty- 
three } T ears: 


Year. 


Imports. 


Exports. 


Excess of 
exports. 


Excess of 
imports. 


1865.. 
1867 .. 
1872 .. 
1878 .. 

1874 .. 

1875 . 

1876 .. 

1877 .. 
1882 .. 

1883 .. 

1884 .. 

1885 .. 

1886 .. 

1887 .. 

1888 .. 

1889 .. 

1890 .. 

1891 .. 

1892 .. 

1893 .. 

1894 .. 

1895 .. 

1896 .. 

1897 .. 

1898 .. 


«$6,422,000 
6,600,000 
5,640,000 
7, 799, 000 
12.343,000 
10,586,000 
15,043, 000 
14,800,000 
11,614,000 
17,241,000 
17,253,000 
11,742,000 
12,491,000 
14,638,000 
15,793,000 
16,274, 000 
16, 723,000 
13,335,000 
14,219,000 
21,975,000 
14,549, 000 
19,500,000 
12,137,000 
13,743,000 
8,560,000 


«$7,333,000 
8,800,000 
8, 600,000 
12,440,000 
14, 784,000 
17, 304,000 
16,113,000 
13, 300, 000 
14,045,000 
19, 720,000 
19,494,000 
18,034,000 
16,461,000 
IS.12S.0OO 
18,793,000 
19,868,000 
23,665,000 
26, UK, 000 
21,015,000 
16,690,000 
21,531,000 
22,291,000 
22,291,000 
18,649,000 
14,900,000 


c$900,000 
2,200. 000 
2,960,000 
4,601,000 
2,441,000 
6,718,000 
1,070,000 


2,401,000 
2, 479,000 
2,241,000 
6,292,000 
3,970,000 
3,490,000 
2,249,000 
3,594,000 
6,942,000 
12,783,000 
6,796,000 
5,285,000 
6,982,000 
2,791,000 
10,154,000 
4,906,000 
6,340,000 


« $1, .500, 000 


« Dollars. 


During the twenty-three years taken into consideration in the forego¬ 
ing table there has been only one year (1877) in which there was an 
excess of imports of $1,500,000, the remaining twenty-two showing 
an aggregate excess of exports amounting to over $110,000,000. 
This latter sum gives a yearly average of $5,000,000 more exports 
than imports. 

COMMERCE IN 1899. 


CARACAS DISTRICT TRADE, 1899. 

The following is an abstract from the report for 1809 of the British 
acting consul at Caracas: 

Imports.—The import trade of the year 1899 might be considered as 


































































VENEZUELA. 


292 


divided into three periods—one including that from January to May, 
the other from June to August, the third from September to December. 

During the first period commerce ran in the usual groove, the only 
difference from other years being a decrease in value. 

During the second period merchants availed themselves of the 
respite given them before the application of the new tariff, and began 
to lay in an extraordinary stock of supplies of all kinds, especially of 
food stuffs and liquors, the articles most affected by the proposed tariff, 
and during the months of June, July, and August all vessels arriving 
at La Guaira and the other ports of the Republic brought large 
cargoes, and trade appeared to be flourishing; but the third period 
arrived when importation decreased to less than a third of the monthly 


average. 


From the report of the vice-consul at La Guaira, it appears that 
there was a falling off in the quantity of all the usual articles imported. 
Merchandise (under which head is included cloth stuffs) showed a 
decrease of about 1,000 tons; hardware, about 100 tons; kerosene, 600 
tons; cement, 1,500 tons; machinery, 150 tons; timber shows a slight 
increase of 700 tons, and railway material of 170 tons, Avhile pro¬ 
visions and liquors have remained stationary . 

In the report of the vice-consul at Puerto Cabello the values of for¬ 
eign imports given point to a decline in the value of the trade in that 
part of the country amounting to nearly 25 per cent. 

The conditions of agriculture during last year left much to be 
desired. The seasons were irregular, and the rains which come with 
the Venzuelan u invierno,” usually from the end of April to October, 
not only did not put in an appearance until two months and a half 
after the usual time, but when they did come they were entirely insuf¬ 
ficient, and the rainfall must have been about one-third of the annual 


average. 


The different kinds of beans became scarce, and the prices rose; and 
corn (from which a kind of native bread for the laboring classes is 
made) was insufficient for the demand, and the price increased more 
than 100 per cent. 

The number of cattle shipped from Puerto Cabello during the year 
was 39,083, and although the number shipped through Guanta is not 
available, it may be safely estimated at 25,000, so that it is calculated 
that the trade represented a value during last year of about $3,000,000 
to the country. If this could be kept up or increased, it is easily seen 
that it could soon rival the principal export of Venezuela—coffee. 

Exports.—The exports, consisting chiefly of coffee, cacao, and hides, 
also suffered considerably in the general depression of the year. This 
trade is carriad on chiefly with France and German}^, which take the 
largest quantity of coffee; the former takes most of the cacao, and 
the hides are shared between them and the United States and the 


COMMERCE 1899. 


293 


United Kingdom. Maracaibo, nevertheless, ships her coffee almost 
exclusively to the United States. From the figures furnished by the 
vice-consuls it appears that there has been a marked decrease in the 
quantities exported during 1899 from the three principal ports of 
the Republic. 

According to the above-mentioned figures, the total coffee export 
in 1899 fell short of that of 1898 by about 13,000 tons. This repre¬ 
sents an immense loss when it is considered that the whole crop of 
1898, which was heavy, only amounted to 53,326 tons. The decrease 
is, therefore, 25 per cent. 

Cotton goods imports of'Venezuela, 1899-1898.—The following table, 
published in the Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom, 
shows the value of British cotton goods imported into Venezuela in 
1899-1898: 


Cotton piece goods. 

1899. 

1898. 

Unbleached. 

a $72,345. 39 
560,226.61 
551,934.10 
346,115.21 

«179,703.54 

524.681.70 

520.525.71 
192,187.82 

Bleached. 

Printed. 

Dyed. 

Total. 

1,530,621.31 

1,317,098. 77 



« Dollars. 


LA GUAIRA TRADE, 1899. 

The following is an abstract of the report for 1899 of the British vice- 
consul at La Guaira: 

Exports.—Although the prices for cacao have improved, the trade in 
this article has not increased as much as was expected, for the crop of 
the first half-year failed through the great drought, and also a part of 
the December crop. As the prices of cacao are at present very good, 
it has caused agriculturists to continue extending their plantations, 
and it is thought that in a short time cacao will take an equal place 
with coffee in importance as an article of export. 

The export of coffee has decreased by 5,198 tons compared with 
1898, and most of it has been shipped to Havre and Hamburg. 

The price of hides has increased, the exports, however, being about 
the same as last year, the bulk being shipped to New York. 

There has been no increase in the exportation of cacao compared 
with 1898, the greater part being shipped to France and Spain. There 
is always a demand in the European market for a good class of Vene¬ 
zuelan cacao. 

Imports.—The exports from the United States to this country consist 
chiefly of flour, lard, rope, petroleum, etc. Nearly J4 per cent of the 
imports of Venezuela came from the United States. 

















294 


VENEZUELA 


Importation, with nationality of vessels, (hiring the year 1899. 


Month. 


January 

February.. 

March. 

April. 

May_*... 

June. 

July. 

August.... 

September. 
October ... 
November. 

December . 


Total 


Month. 


January 
February.. 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August 
September. 
October ... 
November. 
December . 


Total 


German. 


Number of 
vessels. 


a 

Qj 

0) 

+-* 

m 


I 2 

\ . 

i 2 

i. 

2 


2 

U 

9 

{. 


2 
2 
3 

/ 1 
l. 


24 


be 

c 


ei 

CO 


Quantity. 


Kilos. 
751,087 


591,138 


842,617 
162,043 
461,825 
196,201 
573,030 


875, 593 
1,955,582 


119,320 
204,228 
343,773 
136,253 
137,465 


8,250,155 


American. 


Number of 
vessels. 


a 

oj 

Ol 

CO 


25 


be 

P 


oj 

CO 


Quantity. 


Kilos. 
1,144,757 
855, 525 
1,118,339 
648, 022 
1,254,657 
1,189,005 


1,754,903 
1,596,596 
856,635 
1,717,791 
1,824,606 


Danish. 


Numbei of 
vessels. 


a 

cS 

0> 

CO 


be 

a 


oj 

CO 


567,919 
1,883,444 
2,550,127 
898,151 


19,860, 477 


Quantity. 


Kilos. 


471,975 


727,260 


1,199,235 


Spanish. 


Number of 
vessels. 


d 

<x> 


CO 


be 

.5 

"3 

cc 


Quantity. 


Kilos. 


290 
24,103 
4,235 
9,267 
7,196 
142,530 
994 
38,096 


19,327 


246,038 


French. 


Number of 
vessels. 


bi 

a 

a 

c3 


a> 

• r—< 


a 

CO 

CO 

2 


3 


4 


3 


3 


4 


3 


4 


4 


3 


4 


3 


40 



Dutch. 



Number of 
vessels. 


Quantity. 

Steam. 

Sailing. 

Quantity. 

Kilos. 

134,030 

3 


Kilos. 

163,807 

220,375 

1 


65,558 

206,822 

2 


131,983 

193,720 

3 


104,765 

156, 731 

2 


85,139 

227,672 

2 


125,837 

266,112 

2 


204,227 

487,855 

2 


232,455 

45,153 

2 


106,884 

101,340 

2 


26,521 

129,517 

2 


24,136 

89, 713 

3 


45,264 

2,259,010 

26 


1 y 310,5/6 

























































































































































































COMMERCE 1890 


295 


Exportation, with nationality of vessels, during the year 1899. 


Month. 

Amer¬ 

ican. 

German. 

Steam. 

Spanish. 

French. 

Dutch. 

January . 

3 

1 

9 


2 

2 

9 

February . 

2 


2 

March.. 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

April. 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

May. 

2 

4 

1 

2 

2 

June. 

2 

3 

1 

2 

O 

O 

July. 

0 

2 


9 

l 

August. 

2 

1 

1 

4 

3 

September. 

2 

] 


3 

o 

October. 

•> 

1 


3 

2 

November. 

2 

1 


3 

5 

December. 

2 

2 

1 

2 

3 

Total. 

25 

23 

6 

29 

31 


Steam. 

Venezuelan. 


Month. 





Coffee. 


British. 

Italian. 

Steam. 

Sailing. 


* 





Kilos. 

January. 

2 

1 



1,254,108 

February. 

2 

1 

1 


1,251,099 

March. 

2 

1 

2 


1,956,910 

April. 

2 

1 

I 


1,247,970 

May. 

2 

1 


2 


June.:. 



i 


709,385 

Jul v. 


1 

i 

1 

91,082 

August. 


1 

i 


49’ 110 

September. 

1 

1 


1 

43,193 

October. 

1 

1 

i 


81’146 

November. 

1 




57,855 

December. 

3 

1 


2 

193' 234 







Total. 

16 

10 

8 

6 

8,610,835 


Month. 

Cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundries. 

T< 

Number 
of vessels. 

Dtal. 

Quantity. 


Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 


Kilos. 

January. 

323,034 

78, 751 

50,083 

11 

1, 706,576 

February . 

569,366 

50, 001 

33, 706 

12 

1,904,172 

March. 

935, 760 

54, 947 

27, 787 

16 

2,975,404 

April. 

897,426 

70,139 

18,289 

13 

2,233,824 

May. 

923,902 

69,263 

17,838 

16 

2,686, 746 

June. 

512,064 

72,099 

18, 363 

12 

1,311,911 

July. 

592,675 

87, 879 

65,136 

10 

836,772 

August. 

196,476 

166,801 

16,666 

13 

429,053 

September. 

113,221 

55, 760 

29,145 

12 

241,319 

October. 

43,519 

31,416 

16,183 

11 

172,264 

November. 

51,434 

108,899 

22, 782 

12 

210,970 

December. 

22,395 

133, 782 

16, 235 

16 

365,646 

lotal. 

5,181,272 

979, 737 

332,813 

154 

15,104,657 






































































































































Exportation, with nationality of vessels, during the year 1899 —Continued. 


290 


VENEZUELA. 


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COMMERCE 1899 


297 


Importation , exportation , and coasting trade during the year 1899 . 

FOREIGN IMPORTATION. 


Month. 


January ... 
February.. 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August 
September. 
October.... 
November. 
December . 

Total 



Ships. 


Merchandise. 

Hardware. 

General 

cargo. 

Coal. 

Timber. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

15 

1 


14,315 

740,536 

2,426 

128,481 

14 

19 

1 

1 

16,121 
11,770 

945,273 
868,103 

8,886 
6,185 

198,859 
187,472 

17 

4 


8,399 

495, 474 

1,286 

69,468 

17 

2 


8,083 

642,118 

6,466 

164, 654 

18 

4 


10,532 

863,450 

3,984 

161,547 

18 

2 


14, 201 

857, 787 

3,107 

119,477 

20 

17 

2 


23,030 
6,909 

1,676,173 
265,869 

9,329 
3,963 

272,356 
108,064 

13 

1 


4,220 

220,654 

2,717 

107,071 

16 

1 


3,812 

277,757 

2,158 

161,668 

14 

1 


4,440 

243,037 

889 

39,076 

198 

19 

1 

125,832 

8,096,231 

51,396 

1,718,193 


Month. 

Provisions and 
liquors. 

Oils other than 
kerosene. 

Kerosene. 

Timber. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. ' 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

January. 

21,714 

1,257,182 

659 

35,841 

1,297 

49, 514 

3,185 

93,625 

February . 

21,321 

1,222,010 

914 

31, 218 

3,760 

132,769 

1,117 

648,022 

March. 

21,433 

1,229,331 

636 

31, 003 

4, 725 

167,082 

930 

24,299 

April. 

18, 516 

1,154,131 

813 

40, 371 

3, 822 

134,155 

1,276 

79,127 

May. 

24, 674 

1,459, 547 

588 

29, 711 

8,813 

308, 789 

690 

59,610 

June. 

27, 919 

1,547,464 

1,021 

53,390 

f>, 371 

188,284 

1,110 

21,589 

July. 

35,338 

2,107,334 

957 

47,561 

1,730 

60, 561 

613 

15,719 

August. 

September. 

73,847 
4,924 
29,772 

3,840, 095 
277,983 
1,636, 258 

2,124 
73 

92, 618 
6,386 
6,632 

364 
10,130 

12,995 
355,123 
145,536 

628 

62,175 

October. 

125 

4,177 

8 

2, 275 

November. 

30, 466 

1,665,941 

288 

22,538 

6,062 

212,858 

394 

15,261 

December. 

12, 957 

875,417 

247 

12,137 

1,933 

68,336 

83 

4,959 

Total. 

322,881 

18,272, 693 

8,445 

409,406 

52,184 

1,836,002 

10,034 

1,026,661 

. • 


Month. 

Cement. 

Coal. 

Machinery. 

Railway mate¬ 
rials. 

Total. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

January. 

2,012 

324,903 

860,565 

285 

55,169 

2 

411 

3,546,227 

February . 

977 

155, 203 

468, 322 

179 

55,373 

260 

29,851 

3,886,900 

March. 

1,805 

280,060 

300,970 

67 

18,461 

1,076 

119,036 

3,225, 817 

April. 

1,000 

113,000 

1,985,329 

161 

41,179 

251 

143,978 

4,256,212 

May. 

600 

89,150 

1, 333, 558 

88 

12,371 

321 

110,644 

4,210,152 

June. 

1,906 

318,343 

2,643,105 

111 

24,375 

23 

8,358 

5,820,905 

July. 

1,563 

276,115 

1,298,804 

87 

14,878 

164 

21,782 

4,820,018 

August. 

700 

125,640 

1,118,402 

39 

7, 922 

116 

25,109 

7,233,485 

September. 

635 

107, 598 

9,082 

32 

4,043 

208 

10, 692 

1,144,840 

October. 

900 

156, 210 

590,396 

174 

26,032 

31 

4,105 

2,895,169 

November. 

50 

8, 790 

799,800 

20 

2,174 

130 

16,653 

3,183,440 

December. 

100 

17,580 

437,465 

11 

731 

27 

2,915 

1,701,653 

Total. 

12,248 

1,972,592 

11,845,798 

1,254 

262,708 

2, 609 

493,534 

45, 933, 818 


FOREIGN EXPORTATION. 


Goods. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 


1.50,797 
95,679 
88,972 
6,437 

8,610,835 
5,181,272 
979,737 
332,813 

Sundries ... 

Tnt.nl ... . 

341,885 

15,104, 657 



































































































































































298 


VENEZUELA 


Importation, exportation, and coasting trade during the year 1899 — Continued. 

COASTING TRADE. 


Articles. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Merchandise. 

Kilos. 

15, 278,980 
2,126,466 
93,064 

Kilos. 

5,133,498 

Timber. . 

Coal. 


Total . 


17,498,510 

5,133,498 



Exportation of coffee through the port of La Guaira for the year 1899. 


Month. 

United 

Kingdom. 

United 

States. 

Germany. 

France. 

Holland. 

Italy. 

Spain. 

Total . 


Bags. 

Bags. 

Bags. 

Bags. 

Bags. 

Bags. 

Bags. 

Bags. 

January.. 

3 

4,623 

6,685 

4,396 

4,703 

1 . 175 


21,585 

February ... 

250 

6,633 

1, 949 

2, 785 

4! 245 

223 


22,085 

March 

447 

8| 752 

11, 568 

3' 046 

3^ 787 

761 


34; 361 

April. 


10,616 

7,532 

2,659 

635 

691 


22,133 

May. 

1,062 

11,165 

12,737 

2,653 

1,126 



28, 743 

June . 

5, 641 

2 , 422 

4'051 

477 



12’591 

July . 


335 

' 359 

315 

80 

512 


1,601 

August . 


498 

80 


311 


50 

939 

September. 


409 

17 

265 

189 

19 

. 

899 

October. 


17 

960 

268 


147 


1,392 

November. 


440 

147 

293 

91 



971 

December. 

235 

781 

578 

578 

974 

184 

(>6 

3,396 

Total. 

1,997 

49,910 

57,034 

21,309 

16,618 

3,712 

116 

150,696 


Exportation of cacao through the port of La Guaira during the year 1899. 


Month. 


January .. 
February . 
March .... 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August.... 
September 
October... 
November 
December. 


Total. 


United 

Kingdom. 


Bags. 


42 


270 

1,954 


United 

States. 


2,266 


Bags. 

'104 

291 

665 

328 

229 

159 


39 

6 


1,828 


Germany. 


Bags. 
825 
3,359 
9,230 
6,149 
6,993 
2,420 
1,821 
239 


29,046 


France. 


Bags. 
4,672 
5,656 
5, 862 
6,371 
4,379 
5,874 
8,556 
5,116 
1,982 
1,000 
830 
288 


50,586 


Holland. 


Bags. 


1,095 

1,134 

4,534 

1,317 

758 

482 

54 

57 


50 

41 


9,522 


Italy, 


Bags. 

13 

10 

106 

10 


124 


Spain. 


Bags. 


50 


171 

36 


43 


263 


300 


Total. 


Bags. 
5,656 
10,411 
17,047 
16,662 
13,872 
9,382 
10,983 
5,484 
2,039 
1,006 
882 
387 


93,811 


Exportation of hides through the port of La Guaira for the year 1899. 


Month. 


January... 
February.. 
March..... 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August .... 
September. 
October.... 
November. 
December . 

Total 


United 

Kingdom. 


Number. 


1,758 


254 


2,012 


United 

States. 


Number. 
4,565 
4,472 
2,494 
3,983 
6,484 
7,277 
6,568 
6, 723 
4,815 
2,511 
9,607 
9,254 


68,753 


Germany. 


Number. 

788 


188 


32 

296 


403 


1,707 


France. 


Number. 


166 


166 


Holland. 


Number. 


173 


488 

285 

253 
438 

254 
207 
347 


3,4.50 


5,895 


Italy, 


Number. 


32 


32 


Total. 


Number. 
5,3o3 
4,645 
2,682 
6,229 
6,769 
7 , 562 
7,334 
6,977 
5, 425 
2, 858 
9,773 
12,958 


78,565 

















































































































































































COMMERCE 1809. 299 

Exportation of goat and deer skins through the port of La G naira during the year 1899 . 


Month. 

United 

Kingdom. 

United 

States. 

Holland. 

Total. 

January. 

Bales. 

Bales. 

14 

15 
15 
38 
(59 

121 
• 136 
74 
68 
17 
34 
27 

Bales. 

Bales. 

14 

15 
15 
42 
72 

121 

136 

71 

68 

17 

34 

42 

February . 



March. 




4 


May. 

3 

June. 





August. 



September. 



October. 



November. 



December. 


15 

Total. 


4 

628 

18 

650 



Foreign importations through the port of La Guaira, 1899, with countries from which goods 

were shipped. 


Month. 

Germany. 

Belgium. 

Colombia. 

Spain. 

United States of 
America. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

January. 

February .... 

March. 

April. 

May. 

16,614 
16,829 
13,761 

9,219 
8,009 
10,841 
17,943 
43,479 
3,508 
3,855 
5,930 
4,683 

718,976 
573,489 
827,121 
442,321 
480,066 
558,685 
849, 931 
1,904,263 
113,962 
200,842 
341,528 
135, 426 

597 

206 

7 

51,061 

324,616 
532 

. 

3 

9 

247 

3,584 

2,453 
2,551 
3,267 
3,230 
1,823 
. 4,823 
2, 425 
9,357 
721 
467 
2,555 
1,234 

105,023 
120,086 
141,716 
144, 495 
71,559 
197,780 
105,124 
332,055 
46,859 
26,394 
57, 350 
45,034 

19,226 
19,319 
21,646 
18,285 
30, 420 
25, 190 
27, 350 
36,357 
17,294 
34, 510 
31,301 
12,713 

2,017,642 
1,764,407 
1,2.54,947 
1,213,108 
1,759,138 
2,462,054 
1,724,987 
2,561,149 
625,379 
1,921,540 
2,549,962 
891,933 

June. 

July. 

210 

27,863 

3 

160 

August. 

September ... 
October. 

55 

4,666 

5 

1 

379 

59 

November ... 
December.... 

Total... 



1 

97 

154,671 

7,146,613 

1,075 

408,738 i 22 1 4,526 

1 

34,906 

1,393,475 

293,941 

20,746,246 



France. 

Holland. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Month. 

Pack- 

Kilos. 

Pack- 

Kilos. 

Pack- 

Kilos. 

Pack- 

Kilos. 

Pack- 

Kilos. 


ages. 


ages. 


ages. 


ages. 


ages. 


January. 

2,452 

173,594 

1,873 

146,447 

1,624 

227,232 

1,056 

106,252 

45,895 

3,546,227 

February .... 

2,987 

180,057 

943 

67, 512 

10,235 

1,126,525 

671 

54,824 

53,535 

3,886,900 

March. 

2,576 

156,469 

1,718 

131,988 

4,539 

331,598 

911 

57,115 

48,627 

3,225,817 

April. 

1,782 

119,686 

1,426 

104,765 

803 

2,165,418 

763 

62,300 

35,624 

4,256,212 

May. 

1,749 

133,619 

J, 124 

85,139 

6,480 

1,606,643 

718 

73,988 

50,323 

4,210,152 

June. 

1,963 

142,299 

1,653 

125, 840 

5,807 

2, 227,671 

1,187 

87,553 

51,977 

5,829,905 

July. 

3, 457 

251,705 

2, 563 

204,227 

3, 263 

1,595,543 

759 

88,501 

57,760 

4,820,018 

August. 

6,481 

432, 215 

3,227 

232,455 

9, 641 

1,652,294 

1,630 

118,675 

110,177 

7,233,485 

September... 

1,264 

44,042 

719 

58,787 

2,959 

216,825 

353 

34,261 

26,874 

1,144,840 

October. 

802 

69,006 

366 

26,521 

2,053 

641,540 

41 

9,326 

42,124 

2,895,169 

November ... 

982 

55,432 

311 

24,295 

1,102 

67, 716 

1,198 

87,060 

43,380 

3,183,440 

December.... 

524 

38,160 

605 

51,643 

551 

513, 273 

377 

26,184 

20,687 

1,701,653 

Total... 

27,019 

1,796,284 

16,528 

1,259,619 

49,057 

12,372,278 

9,664 

806,039 

586,883 

45,933,818 


PUERTO CABELLO TRADE, 1899. 

The United States consul at Puerto Cabello reported as follows the 
imports and exports of his district for the calendar year 1899: 

The majority of the exports from Puerto Cabello go to Cuba and 
Europe. The value of the exports in 1899 was $3,303,546 in United 
States currency, of which Cuba received$1,301,779; France, $1,097,280; 
Germany, $364,916; other European countries, $134,114, and the 
United States, $405,457. 





































































































































300 


VENEZUELA. 


The imports were valued at $1,193,271. These were received from 
the following* countries: United States, $365,828; England, $336,310; 
Germany, $253,515; Holland, $91,011; France,$81,611; Spain,$33,853, 
and Italy, $31,086. 

IMPORTS.^ 


Country. 

1899. 1898. 

United Kingdom . 

£131,447 
64,904 
61,351 
35, 707 
20,333 
11,051 
338 

3 

£102,700 
78,440 
163,910 
38,910 
19,020 
6,990 
12,690 

Germany. 

United States . ; .. 

France. 

Holland. 

Italy. 

Spain . 

Trinidad. 

Sundry. 

2,480 

Total . 


325,134 

425,140 



EXPORTS. 

Figures for exports compare as follows : a 


Articles. 

1899. 

1898. 


Kilos. 
11,891,030 
495,921 
437,760 
110,245 

Kilos. 
13,024,633 
325,547 
530,077 
128,931 
1,047 
127,220 

Cacao.-. 

Hides. 

Skins. 

Quinia. 

Coprah. 

201,685 



a According to British vice-consul’s report (1S99). 


MARACAIBO TRADE, 1899. 

The following figures are taken from the report of the British vice- 
consul at Maracaibo for 1899: 

Coffee.—The export of 1899 of the principal article, which is coffee, 
is far behind that of 1898. The amount exported was 331,328 bags 
(20,268 tons), against 111,579 bags (26,191 tons) in 1898, and 122,313 
bags (25,186 tons) in 1897. The average price of coffee per 100 pounds 
f. o. b., Maracaibo, may be calculated at 7.88 pesos (£1.5s.), at 8.55 pesos 
(£1.7s.) for 1898, and at 12.75 pesos (£'2.Is.) for 1897. The value of 
the coffee exported amounted to 7,015,000 pesos (£1,111,287) in 1897 
to 1,875,000 pesos (£772,581) in 1898, and to 3,129,250 pesos (£513,218) 
in 1899. 

Hides.—The export of hides shows a small decrease. In 1899, 30,221 
hides were exported, while in 1898 there was an export of 32,886 hides. 
The declared value of export was as follows: In 1898 it amounted to 
119,190.50 pesos (£18,882), and in 1899 to 129,130.30 pesos (£20,156). 

Skins.—The export of skins shows a considerable increase; in 1899, 
107,217 kilos were exported, against 83,797 kilos in 1898. 






































COMMERCE 1899. 


301 


Balsam copaiba.—The export of balsam copaiba shows a small increase 
against 1898. In 1899, 42,732 kilos, were exported, representing a 
value of 33,649 pesos (£5,330), against 35,778 kilos in 1898. 

Fish sounds.—Fish sounds are becoming more and more in demand, 
and a good deal of attention is paid to them. In 1899 the export 
amounted to 39,261 kilos, with a value of 17,227 pesos (£2,570). 

Cacao.—The returns of 1899 show a declared value of 46,063 pesos 
(£7,300), against £10,700 in 1898. 

Quina bark.—The export of quina bark becomes less from year to 
year. In 1899 it amounted only to 12,778 kilos, with a value of 2,118 
pesos (£335. 10s.). 

Dividivi.—The export of dividivi is increasing. In 1899, 1,766 
tons were exported, with a value of 41,124 pesos (£6,514). 

Wood.—The export of wood is increasing again; the principal kinds 
exported are: Boxwood, cedar, ebony, fustic, lignum vitae, mahogany, 
and different hardwoods. The value of exportation in 1899 amounted 
to 57,383 pesos (£9,090) on 6,506 tons. 

Rubber and asphaltum.—Rubber and asphaltum are attracting more 
and more attention, and the export is increasing. 

Exports from Maracaibo during the year 1899. 


Month. 

Fustic. 

Dividivi. 

Coffee. 

Cacao. 

January. 

February . 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

September. 

October.. 

Kilos. 

418,447 
484,770 
912, 657 
505,239 
811, 608 
134,000 
511,454 
858,008 
883, 305 
313,894 
532, 739 
140,096 

Kilos. 

296,728 

8,521 
63,480 
268,830 
14,202 
214,896 
503,311 

Bags. 

35,219 
29, 391 
44, 624 
35, 772 
47, 634 
35,793 
14,356 
14,099 
14,001 
14, 751 
33,334 
15,354 

Kilos. 

2,129,076 
1,792,684 
2, 725,114 
2,179,924 
2,882,164 
2,180,064 
857,360 
844,836 
841,770 
906,670 
2,026,139 
902,889 

Bags. 

47 

112 

274 

487 

47 

133 

46 

704 

596 

Kilos. 
2,394 
5,034 
12,411 
32,288 
2,330 
4,918 
2,096 
34,327 
29,841 

November. 

384,020 
12,192 



December. 

Total . 

Total 1898. 

184 

7,512 

6,506,217 
6,550,465 

1,766,180 
802,027 

334,328 
441,579 

20,268,690 
26,494,530 

2, 630 
3,007 

123,151 
129,935 


Month. 

Quina Bark. 

Copaiba. 

Hides. 

Goatskins. 


Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Number. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

January. 

53 

2, 380 

62 

2, 551 

1,719 

18,098 

12 

1,001 

Fehrnarv . 



41 

1,706 

461 

4, 678 

52 

4,302 

March. 

42 

1,709 

36 

1,508 

2,234 

23,371 

113 

9,540 

April. 

24 

1,039 

40 

1,679 

3, 966 

47,779 

80 

6,516 

May. 

32 

1,617 

100 

4,181 

4,413 

49,767 

128 

16,813 

June. 

70 

2,101 

200 

8,362 

1,710 

19,105 

87 

7,618 

July. 

54 

2,537 

59 

2,500 

1,639 

15,988 

103 

8,514 

August. 

6 

274 

150 

8,754 

2,319 

21,746 

129 

11,074 

September. 

23 

1,121 

161 

8,383 

2,206 

21,589 

117 

10,693 

Oetnber . 



30 

1,165 

2,119 

22,804 

54 

5,287 

Nnvomhor 



27 

1,049 

5,000 

55,486 

148 

14,911 

December. 



21 

894 

2; 435 

22, 903 

84 

7,285 

Total. 

304 

12,778 

927 

42,732 

30,221 

323, 314 

1,107 

103,544 

Total 1898. 

270 

12,047 

869 

35,778 

32,886 

382,242 

1,004 

81,241 

















































































302 


VENEZUELA. 


Exports from Maracaibo during the year 1899 —Continued. 


Month. 


January... 
February . 
March .... 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August.... 
September 
October... 
November 
December. 

Total 
Total 1898. 


Deerskins. 

Fish sounds. 

Brown 

sugar. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

2 

131 

47 

4,376 


951 

38,570 

1 

55 

92 

8 , 705 


868 

37,180 



71 

6,140 


963 

39,658 

3 

316 

36 

3,328 


774 

33, 764 

7 

621 

51 

4, 469 

1 

340 

50,984 

0 

95 

26 

2,548 


741 

31,007 

3 

299 

4 

368 


178 

5, 520 

4 

320 

36 

3,305 

1 

204 

47, 924 

8 

710 

32 

3,051 


632 

21,076 

2 

197 

29 

2,458 


520 

17,020 

8 

713 

5 

408 ■ 

1 

178 

38,812 

2 

206 

1 

105 


894 

35,033 

46 

3,663 

430 

39,261 

10 

243 

396,548 

34 

2,556 

585 

40,171 

IL 

132 

438,375 


Asphalt. 


Packages. 

Kilos. 











204 

200 

38,791 
40,500 



2 

40 



406 

79, 331 




CIUDAD BOLIVAR TRADE 1899. 

The following is an abstract from the report of the British vice- 
consul at Ciudad Bolivar: 

A decree has been issued declaring the import of mining machinery, 
supplies, etc., to be free of duty in accordance with the mining code. 

Dynamite.—The French company that has the sole right to sell 
dynamite in Venezuela charges $30 (about £6) per box of 50 pounds 
of dynamite supplied to the mines. This is double what it would cost 
to import the same article from the United Kingdom or Germany. 

Iron mines.—The valuable iron-ore mines situated at Imataca on the 
Lower Orinoco have now passed to an American company, which is 
stated to be preparing for their development. A trial cargo was 
shipped to the United States toward the end of the year. 

Chamber of commerce.—Early in 1899 a chamber of commerce was 
formed in this city. 

Return of principal articles of export from Ciudad Bolivar during the years 1898-99. 


Articles. 


Copaiba oil.kilos 

Cacao.do.. 

Coffee.do.. 

Rubber (Para).'..do.. 

Rubber (Balata).do.. 

Hides.do.. 

Deerskins.do.. 

Gold bullion.do.. 

Tonga beans....".do.. 

Tobacco.do.. 

Heron feathers (Egret).do.. 

Cattle.number 

Live animals (horses, etc.).do.. 

Other articles.kilos 


1898. 

1899. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

11,284 
40,920 
118,657 
70,502 
509,461 
1,338,238 
27,917 
1,218 
107, 111 
267,718 
2,839 
8,944 
182 
58,047 

£1,312 
2, 235 
5,862 
16,398 
52,740 
68,255 
>,416 
111,068 
19,247 
10, 782 
20,708 
42,062 
679 
1,244 

25,291 
18,440 
160,678 
79,586 
746,885 
1,215,474 
39,340 
1,316 
20,780 
99,612 
2,534 
9,860 
411 
31,097 

£2,680 
937 
3,298 
25,879 
94,207 
70,267 
2, 779 
120,975 
2,910 
3,167 
20,830 
43,915 
1,633 
2,033 


354,008 


395,510 




Total 
















































































Handbook of Venezuela. 



PORT OF CIUDAD BOLIVAR. 

















COMMERCE 1900. 


303 


COMMERCE IN 1900. 


CARACAS DISTRICT TRADE, 1900. 


The following is an abstract from the report of the British acting 
consul at Caracas for 1900: 

Imports. —From the reports of the vice-consuls it appears that there 
has been a decrease in the importation of every class of goods with 
the exception of coal and kerosene. 

Exports.— The figures shown in the tables of exports are more satis¬ 
factory for the principal products of Venezuela. Coffee, cacao, and 
hides have all increased considerably in the total quantity, although 
at Maracaibo coffee showed a slight falling off. The improvement, 
however, is not a monetary one, for the price of coffee remains very 
low, and although that of cacao is fairly good, the quantity produced 
is as yet insufficient to replace coffee. 

Cattle. —The cattle business has declined very much, as seen from the 
number exported at Puerto Cabello, viz, 18,774 head against 39,083 
head in 1899, or nearly 50 per cent. 


EA GTJAIRA TRADE, 1900. 

The British acting vice-consul reports as follows (abstract): 

Imports. —Imports from the United States were 1,186 tons less than 
the previous 3 ^ear. This represents a decline of 5 per cent. Imports 
from other countries show, however, a greater decrease, for from 
Germany 1,365 tons less were received, which means a decline of 19 
per cent. France sent 25 per cent and Italy also 25 per cent less than 
in 1899. The difference in the bulk of trade with the United Kingdom 
is also represented by a high figure, as 2,559 tons, or about 20 per cent 
less than the total of the previous } r ear were imported, and as the goods 
received from the United Kingdom are cottons and hardware, the loss 
in value to British trade must be considerable. 

Exports. —The figures relative to exports are more favorable, for 
the} T show in quantity an increase in the three principal branches of 
the trade, viz, coffee, cacao, and hides. In the former article there 
were shipped in 1900, 25,144 bags (1,690 tons) more than in the previous 
year, and in cacao 11,948 bags (equal to 585 tons). In hides the excess 
of 23,555 represents an increase of 26^ per cent on the number 
exported in 1899. 


304 


VENEZUELA 


Imports by merchandise at La Guaira , 1900. 


Month. 

Ships. 

Merchandise. 

Hardware. 

General 

cargo. 

Coal. 

Timber. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

January. 

15 

1 


4,062 

293,287 

1,125 

47,850 

February. 

11 

2 


4,566 

208, 721 

262 

17,085 

March. 

16 

4 


9’228 

400,345 

2,146 

74,083 

April. 

15 

2 


4,599 

291'488 

1,199 

33,421 

May. 

18 

1 


5' 804 

441,486 

2,174 

89,284 

June. 

14 



b\ 845 

407,220 

2,938 

66,312 

July. 

19 

3 


9,659 

629j333 

1,401 

64,029 

August. 

16 

1 


8,279 

621’517 

3,420 

110,903 

September. 

14 



llj439 

575, 780 

1,791 

70,838 

October. 

16 

1 


12; 350 

915,891 

5,232 

167,286 

November. 

15 



13' 488 

1,031,261 

7,342 

404,138 

December. 

18 

2 

1 

14,776 

'959,860 

2,225 

119,486 

Total. 

187 

17 

. 1 

104,095 

6,776,189 

31,255 

1,264,715 


Month. 

Provisions and liquors. 

Oils other than kero¬ 
sene. 

Kerosene. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

January. 

21,260 

1,365,723 

281 

15, 791 

4,406 

155,279 

February . 

6,976 

389, 771 

233 

11,638 

1,750 

61,176 

March. 

14,139 

933,543 

251 

12,522 

3,926 

139,640 

April. 

17,692 

1,124,476 

83 

10,296 

4,123 

144,717 

May. 

26,955 

1,431,609 

947 

43,477 

6,952 

243,010 

June. 

17,592 

960,268 

1,025 

49,880 

3,792 

133,406 

July. 

31,528 

1,535,007 

744 

31,690 

4,187 

146,918 

August. 

18,496 

1,091,776 

899 

40,523 

5,726 

200,733 

September. 

21,022 

1,185,370 

260 

13,473 

7,497 

272,760 

October. 

30,260 

1,718,665 

905 

45,091 

5, 784 

205,220 

November. 

24,239 

1,349,387 

300 

15,619 

2,494 

87,608 

December. 

20, 821 

1,226,147 

1,204 

54,658 

4,206 

145,877 

Total. 

250, 940 

14,311,742 

7,132 

344,658 

54,843 

1,936,344 


Month. 

Timber. 

Cement. 

Coal. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

January... 

1,543 

35,676 



651,630 

February. 

108 

2; 907 

27 

3,834 

1,234, 716 

March. 



200 

28, 370 

3,176, 683 

April. 

490 

12,000 

1,310 

192; 767 

1,283,865 

May. 

1,539 

68 , 081 

361 

62,086 

578,345 

June. 

50 

15,050 

410 

67, 600 

4,889 

July. 

616 

76,479 

2,475 

399,699 

2,853,027 

August. 

358 

54,121 

520 

91,640 

541, 708 

September. 

50 

12,960 

380 

67, 650 


October. 

451 

137; 336 

2,202 

338,295 

706,334 

November. 

454 

96,268 

1,275 

217,470 

148,100 

December. 

1,800 

597, 950 

1,931 

311,305 

1,099,521 

Total...:. 

7,459 

1,108,828 

11,091 

1,780,716 

12,278,818 


Month. 

Machinery. 

Railway materials. 

Total. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

January. 

29 

2,338 

72 

15,956 

32,778 

2,583,530 

February . 

18 

2,705 

212 

30,174 

14,152 

1,962, 727 

March. 

118 

11,587 

59 

7,554 

30,067 . 

- 4,784,327 

April.... 

29 

4,987 

234 

22,794 

29, 719 

3,120,811 

May. 

31 

1,287 

251 

9,775 

45,014 

2,968,440 

June. 

22 

2,502 

792 

18,759 

32, 466 

1,725,886 

July. 

39 

4,958 

71 

12, 948 

50, 720 

5,754,088 

August. 

56 

15,926 

47 

8,625 

37,801 

2, 777,472 

September. 

45 

4,821 

132 

31,509 

42,616 

2,235,161 

October. 

185 

23,803 

137 

12,332 

57, .506 

4,270,253 

November. 

48 

6, 924 

69 

16,834 

49, 709 

3,373, 609 

December. 

59 

12,856 

327 

22,220 

47,349 

4,549,880 

Total. 

679 

94,6J4 

2,403 

209,480 

469,897 

40,106,184 















































































































































































COMMERCE 1900 


305 


Exports bg merchandise at La On air a, 1900. 


Goods. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Bags of coffee. 

175,941 
107,627 
112,527 
13, 954 

10,300,565 
5,766,160 
1,075,028 
631,524 

Bags of cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundries. 

Total. 


17,773,277 




La Guaira coasting trade, 1900. 


Articles. 

Importation. 

Exportation. 

Merchandise. 

Kilos. 
15,818,029 
668 ,444 
18,060 

Kilos. 

5,286,302 

Timber. 

Coal. 


Total. 


16,504,533 

5,286,302 



Foreign importation of Im Guiara, 1900, showing countries from which the goods are 

shipped. 


Month. 

JP 

Germany. 

Colombia. 

Denmark. 

Spain. 

United States of 
America. 

.Tnnnn rv 

Pkgs. 
3,298 
5,113 
7,926 
5,334 
10, 863 
5, 998 
18,388 
4,842 
14,349 
15,549 
16,254 
14,816 

Kilos. 
125,596 
168,122 
209,742 
243,766 
475,633 
313,060 
874, 623 
191,150 
557,614 
823,648 
1,025,379 
772,919 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 
2,111 
933 
1,051 
760 
5,533 
3,392 
5,300 
3,163 
1,128 
4,411 
3,521 
4, 946 

Kilos. 

86,977 
52,766 
42, 604 
28,478 
237, 317 
126, 754 
183, 493 
120,803 
41,714 
174,027 
105,444 
189,599 

Pkgs. 
25,166 

6,600 
16,710 
19,528 
22,203 
14,890 
19,148 
19,662 
20, 400 
29,011 
20,069 
19,929 

Kilos. 
1,546,599 
494,532 
1,470,814 
1,722,252 
1,713,517 
883,222 
3,071,097 
1,242,334 
1,059,890 
2,001,755 
1,514,417 
2,840,048 

February . 

March. 

Apr 1 1 

3 

244 

1 

18 

May. 

2 

93 



Tulv 





August. 

September.... 

October. 

November .... 
December. 

Total.... 

16 

2 

2 

2,498 
55 
138 

5 

180 

122,730 

5,781,252 

25 

3,028 

6 

198 

36,249 

1,389,976 233,316 

19, 560,477 

Month. 

France. 

Holland. 

United King¬ 
dom. 

Italy. 

Total. 

January . 

February . 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

September_ 

October. 

November .... 
December. 

Total.... 

Pkgs. 

676 

466 

806 

1,732 
1,419 
1,326 

2,012 

2, 214 
1,694 
1,457 

2,627 

2, 351 

Kilos. 
53,879 
30,663 
47,861 
223,386 
96,312 
83,971 
139,657 
119,264 
124,127 
114,199 
177,717 
178,369 

Pkgs. 
479 
270 
981 
1,359 
1,948 
2,168 
4,646 
3,271 
2,557 
1,108 
2,433 
501 

Kilos. 

39, 265 
18,239 
78, 477 
94, 376 
113,640 
128,413 
413,541 
180,482 
164,973 
72,356 
189,715 
55, 553 

Pkgs. 
639 
390 
2,040 

1,006 
1,700 
3,203 
705 
3,672 
1,503 
4,674 
4, 727 
2, 966 

Kilos. 
701,517 
1,170,069 
2,891,642 
808, 553 
265, 534 
101,198 
1,031,077 
882,186 
213,617 
1,000,603 
355,852 
391,360 

Pkgs. 

409 

380 

549 

1,346 

1,489 

621 

961 

983 

1,294 
73 
1,840 

Kilos. 
29,697 
28,336 
42,925 

66,394 
89,268 
40,600 
38,755 
73,171 
83,527 
4,905 
122,032 

Pkgs. 
32,778 
14,152 
30,067 

29.719 
45,014 
32,466 

50.720 
37,801 
42,616 
57,506 
49,709 
47,349 

Kilos. 

2,583,530 
1,962,727 
4,784,327 
3,120,811 
2,968,440 
1,725,886 
5,754,088 
2,777,472 
2,235,161 
4,270,253 
3,373,609 
4,549,880 

18,780 

1,389,405 

21,621 

1,549,030 

27,225 9,813,208 

9,945 

619,610 

469,897 

40,106,184 


4a—04 


20 



















































































































306 


VENEZUELA 


La Guaira exportation, with nationality of vessels, during the year 1900. 


Month. 

Coffee. 

Cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundries. 

Number 
of vessels. 

Total. 


Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 


Kilos. 

January. 

363,694 

184,917 

126,343 

38,669 

10 

713,623 

February . 

1,359,428 

354,885 

135,975 

88,358 

14 

1,938,646 

March. 

1,733,344 

673,178 

103,390 

39, 529 

12 

2,449,441 

April. 

1,597,407 

794,725 

82, 043 

36,088 

13 

2,510,263 

May. 

2,024,348 

1,171,096 

119,184 

52,059 

18 

3,366,687 

.1 une. 

1,281,857 

600,477 

109,679 

26,030 

13 

2,018,043 

July. 

884,785 

649, 684 

92,785 

85,245 

12 

1,712, 499 

August. 

87,503 

533,149 

46,017 

23,953 

17 

690,622 

September. 

53,813 

292,088 

44,806 

21,834 

14 

412,541 

October. 

77,322 

228,293 

82,121 

18,201 

11 

405,937 

November. 

294,289 

132,207 

69,780 

186,423 

14 

682, 699 

December. 

542,775 

251,461 

62,905 

15,135 

14 

872,276 

Total. 

10,300,565 

5,766,160 

1,075,028 

631,524 

162 

17,773,277 


The following 1 are the official figures of imports at La Guaira during 
the year 1900: 


From— 


United Kingdom 

United States_ 

Germany. 

France.. 

Holland. 

Spain. 

Italy.. 


Total.., 


Value. 


Currency. 

Sterling. 

Bolivars. 

£ s. d. 

3,311,116.44 

131,133 6 6 

1,970,389.10 

78,035 4 3 

1,488,247.07 

58,940 9 6 

832,497.21 

32,970 3 9 

730,352. 92 

28,924 17 4 

190,824.83 

7,557 8 5 

79,088.97 

3,132 2 5 

8,602,516.54 

340,693 12 2 


Notk.— 25.25 bolivars = £1 sterling; 5 bolivars = the United States dollar. 


PUERTO CABELLO TRADE, 1900. 


The following is an abstract from the report of the British vice- 
consul at Puerto Cabello for 1900: 


Exports. —The export figures are as follows: 


Articles. 


Quantity. 


Coffee. 

Cacao . 

Hides. 

Skins. 

Copra. 

Lumber... 
Dividivi .. 
Quinia .... 

Horns. 

Seeds. 

Sundries .. 

Total 
Cattle. 


Kilos. 

Tons. cwts. 

r/rs. 

lbs. 

14,995,724 

12,994 

0 

1 

19 

525,187 

455 

1 

2 

17 

636,363 

551 

8 

1 

13 

836,128 

724 

10 

1 

11 

53, 692 

46 

10 

1 

7 

317,145 

274 

16 

0 

24 

25,170 

21 

16 

0 

23 

143 

0 

2 

1 

28 

3,988 

3 

9 

0 

12 

50, 933 

44 

2 

2 

19 

64,605 

55 

19 

2 

14 

17,509,078 
18,774 

15,171 

17 

2 

11 


Note.— 51.52 kilos.=1 cwt. 













































































COMMERCE 1900. 


307 


Puerto Cabello imports, December, 1900.—The following table shows 
the importations through Puerto Cabello during the month of Decem¬ 
ber, 1900: 


Country. 

Weight. 

Value. 

Duties. 

United States. 

Kilos. 

499,716 
43,486 
258,615 
416, 538 
56,922 
62,492 
14,848 

Bolivars. 
(*320,563 
103,380 
289,537 
1,070,788 
93,395 
60,000 
5,623 

Bolivars, 
a 242,028.01 
49,513.02 
125,213.58 
532,467.28 
50,017.09 
36, 000.00 
8,974.18 

France . 

Germany. 

England. 

Holland. 

Spain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

1,352,617 

1,943,286 

1,044,213.16 



a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the U. S. dollar. 


MARACAIBO TRADE, 1900. 

The following is an abstract from the report of the British vice- 
consul at Maracaibo for 1900: 

Coffee.—The export for 1900 of the principal article, which is coffee 
has not increased, being less than that of former years. 

The export of coffee during the past twelve months was as follows: 


Year. 

Quantity. 

1900 .. 

Bags. 
345,471 
334,328 
441,579 

Tons. 

20,050 
20,268 
26, 494 

1899 . 

1898 . 



The average price of coffee per 100 pounds f. o. b. Maracaibo may 
be calculated at <£1. 6s., at £1. 5s. for 1899, at £1. 7s. for 1898, and at 
£2. Is. for 1897. 

The value of export of coffee amounted in 1900 to £540,707, in 1899 
to £543,248, and in 1898 to £772,584. 

Hides.—In 1900 the export of hides has increased considerably. 
There were shipped 34,793 hides this year, against 30,221 hides last 
year. The declared value of export was £30,430 in 1900, and £20,456 
in 1899, showing an increase of nearly 50 per cent in value. 

Skins.—The export of skins shows a considerable increase. In 1900 
Maracaibo exported 125,866 kilograms, against 107,217 kilograms in 
1899. 

Salsam copaiba.—The quantity of balsam copaiba exported in 1900 
was 36,587 kilograms, against 42,732 kilograms the previous year, 
showing a small decrease. 

Fish sounds.—Fish sounds are becoming more and more in demand, 
and merchants continue to pay a good deal of attention to this trade. 
There were exported 42,901 kilograms in 1900, against 39,261 kilo¬ 
grams in 1889. 










































308 


VENEZUELA. 


Cacao.—Cacao was in demand the whole year, and its export has 
increased heavily. In 1900 the export amounted to 181,156 kilograms, 
with a value of <£10,800, against 123,933 kilograms, with a value of 
£7,300 in 1899. 

Quinia bark.—The export of quinia hark is decreasing. In 1900 the 
export shows only 1,099 kilograms, while in 1899, 12,778 kilograms 
were exported. 

Dividivi.—During the whole year there was a good demand for 
divi-divi, and prices were maintained. Maracaibo exported in 1900 
more or less the same quantity as in the former years, viz, about 
1,800 tons. 

Wood.—The export of wood has decreased a little; 5,121 tons were 
exported in 1900, against 6,506 tons in 1899. The principal kinds 
exported are boxwood, cedar, ebony, fustic, and lignum vitas. 

General produce from Maracaibo during the year 1900. 


Month. 


January. 

February . 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

September 

October. 

November .... 
December. 

Total 

Total 1S99. 


Coffee. 

Cacao. 

Bags. 

29,618 
34,711 
40,912 
25,495 
27,294 
39,527 
34,715 
27,589 
24,843 
23,370 
20,959 
16,438 

Kilos. 
1,785,947 
2,148,554 
2,479,835 
1,536,647 
1,640,404 
2,356,877 
2,076,444 
1,652,338 
1,496,023 
1,403,656 
1,262,262 
990,477 

Bags. 

421 

48 

178 

87 

505 

398 

509 

781 

566 

358 

34 

Kilos. 
20,899 
2,119 
8,665 
4,026 
25,240 
17,685 
24,614 
35,121 
27,518 
17,051 
1,518 



345,471 
334,328 

20,829,464 
20,268,737 

3,885 
2,602 

184,456 
123,933 


Quinia bark. 

Pkgs. 

24 

Kilos. 

989 







2 

110 



14 

679 

52 

3 

2,185 

136 

95 

250 

4,099 
10,241 


Hides. 

Goatskins. 

No. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

5,286 

49,551 

127 

11, 976 

1,812 

16, 709 

75 

7,320 

5,022 

49,248 

172 

16,044 

2,826 

28,165 

157 

15,107 

2,995 

29,659 

158 

14,122 

1,710 

17, 311 

131 

11,922 

603 

6,563 

49 

4,322 

2,203 

22,707 

138 

8,635 

3,397 

29,281 

44 

3,382 

2,734 

25, 902 

200 

15,561 

3,130 

33,495 

84 

6,044 

3,075 

29,448 

91 

6,957 

34, 793 

338,039 

1,426 

121,392 

30,297 

322,001 

1,107 

98,073 


CIUDAD BOLIVAR TRADE, 1900. 

The following is an abstract from the report of the British vice-con¬ 
sul at Ciudad Bolivar, 1900: 

Imports.—As the goods imported here come almost exclusively in 
transit by British, French, Dutch, and German lines, via Trinidad 
and British West Indies, it is most difficult to trace their real origin. 

o 


Value of imports at Ciudad Bolivar during the years 1S99-1900. 


Country. 

Value. 

1899.« 

1900. 

Trinidad (principally transit from the United Kingdom, United States, etc.). 
Germany (direct). 

£240,000 

£259,166 
3,633 

Total... 


240,000 

262,799 



a Figures for 1899 are approximate only. 























































COMMERCE 1900. 


309 


Balata rubber.—More extensive use having been found by man¬ 
ufacturers for the employment of balata rubber, the prices for 1900 
have ruled correspondingly high, and a great impetus was given to 
the balata industry in this consular district. 

The production reached 1,205 tons, as compared with 746 tons in 
the previous year. Other circumstances further favored this indus- 
try, viz., a wet season, making the trees very productive, and abun¬ 
dant labor. 

Gold mines.—The gold-mining industry has remained stationaiy 
since last year’s report. 

The cyanide treatment of the mill tailings has been successfully 
introduced into the district by one company, and it is hoped that this 
may induce other mines to start work again. 


Undoubtedly very extensive deposits of quartz exist in the Yuruari 
mining district, which formerly, owing to the excessive cost of labor 
and the loss of gold in the tailings, could not be treated profitably. 
Only the vely rich ores were therefore worked. 


Within the last few years the price of labor has fallen by about 
one-half, which saving of cost, added to the success attending the 
cyanide treatment, should make it possible to work low-grade ores to 
advantage. 


Cattle.—The export of cattle has been less than in previous 3 'ears, 
and dealings have been somewhat checked by an export dut} T of $2 per 
head. It is, however, expected that this impost will be removed 
before long. The price of beef oxen, weighing about 900 to 1,000 
pounds, live weight, is from £5 to £5 10s. a head. 

Transit trade.—The transit trade with the neighboring Republic of 
Colombia, via Orinoco and Meta rivers, has been blocked the greater 
part of the } r ear. 

New ventures.—A German company has latel} r acquired the asphalt 
mines situated near the mouth of the Pedernales branch of the Orinoco. 
Another German company is reported to have acquired the extensive 
Caura property, consisting of cattle ranches and forests belonging to 
the heirs of the late General Crespo. 

Two French companies have acquired forest lands south of the 
Orinoco for the exploitation of balata rubber a and other natural 
products. 

Iron mines.—Work at the important Imataca iron-ore mines still 
remains in abeyance. 

Cable.—A cable connecting this city with the opposite shore of the 
Orinoco has been laid during the 3 r ear, thus facilitating telegraphic 
communication with Caracas and the outer world. 


« The majority of the rubber found is hevea. 



310 


VENEZUELA 


Principal articles of export from Ciudad Bolivar during the years 1S99 and 1900. 


Articles. 

1899. 

1900. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Copaiba oil.kilos.. 

Cacao.do_ 

Coffee.do_ 

Rubber (Para).do_ 

Rubber (balata).do_ 

Hides.do_ 

Deer skins.do_ 

Gold bullion.do- 

Tonga beans.do— 

Tobacco.do — 

Heron feathers (egret).do— 

Other articles.do— 

Total.do_ 

Total.tons.. 

25,291 
18,440 
1G0, (578 
79,586 
746, 885 
1,215,474 
39,340 
1,316 
20,780 
99,612 
2, 534 
31,097 

£2,680 
937 
3,298 
25,879 
94,207 
70, 267 
2, 779 
120,975 
2,910 
3,167 
20,830 
2,033 

8 ,474 
38,481 
13,107 
47, 730 
1,205,612 
1,495,937 
35,169 
600 
86,460 
43, 211 
5,811 
71,018 

£860 
2,327 
431 
11,561 
185,141 
80,513 
2, 985 
63,904 
9,272 
1,488 
35,882 
8,075 

2,441,033 
2,441 
9,860 
411 

349,962 

3,051,610 
3,051 
6,496 
309 

402,439 

Cattle.number.. 

Live animals (horses, etc.).do_ 

Total. 

43,915 
1,633 

30, 777 
998 


395,510 


434,214 





COMMERCE IN 1901. 

The “Commercial Relations of the United States, 1902,' 51 published 
b} T the Department of State, contains the following information 
regarding Venezuela : a 

The trade of the principal countries with Venezuela in 1901 was: 


Country. 

Imports from 
Venezuela. 

Exports to 
Venezuela. 

Country. 

Imports from 
Venezuela. 

Exports to 
Venezuela. 

United States. 

Great Britain. 

a 87,153,500 
515,000 

jo co 

CH O 
a Cn 
QObO 

J- 

o o 
o o 

Germany. 

France. 

a 82,237,200 
2,969,700 

((81,666,000 
350,300 


« Dollars. 


The United States consul-general at Frankfort reports as follows: 

The imports into Germany from Venezuela for the five years from 1897 to 1901, 
inclusive, were : lj 


Year. 

Value. 

Percent¬ 
age of 
total im¬ 
ports. 

Year. 

Value. 

Percent¬ 
age of 
total im¬ 
ports. 

1897 . 

Marks. 

10,900,000 
, 9,700,000 
9,400, 000 

82,594,200 
2,308,600 
2,237,200 

0.2 

1900. 

Marks. 

9,700,000 
9,400,000 

82,308,600 
2,237,200 

0.2 

.2 

1898 . 

.2 

1901. 

1899 . 

.2 



The German exports to Venezuela were: 


Year. 

Value. 

Percent¬ 
age of 
total ex¬ 
ports. 

Year. 

Value. 

Percent¬ 
age of 
total ex¬ 
ports. 

1897 . 

Marks. 

5,500,000 
4, 300,000 
4,000,000 

81,309,000 
1,023,400 
952,000 

0.1 

1900. 

Marks. 

5,000,000 
7,000,000 

81,190,000 

1,666,000 

0.1 

.2 

1898 . 

. 1 

1901. 

1899 . 

. l 









«Com. Rel. of the U. S., 1902, Vol. I, pp. 108-109. 

t> Statistics from Statistical Yearbook of the German Empire. 












































































































COMMERCE 1901. 


311 


It will be seen that the trade between these countries is very small, 
the exports from Germany to Venezuela for 1901, however, show a 
very considerable increase over any of the previous four years, both 
absolutely and relatively. 

Destination of exports.—In a report on Venezuelan commerce the 
Belgian charge d’affaires at Caracas gives the following information 
relative to the destination of the Venezuelan exports: 

“The greater part of the coffee is shipped to Hamburg, a smaller 
quantity to New York, and a few special grades to Spain. The fine 
coffees were formerlv sent to Havre, but since the beginning* of the 
year 1901 the application in France of the maximum tariff of 300 francs 
per 100 kilograms to Venezuelan coffees has stopped the movement and 
the French markets will remain closed to them as long as Venezuela 
has no commercial treaty with that country. 

“ The medium and inferior grades of cacao are sent to Spain and 
Germany, while the English and French markets—London, Paris, Bor¬ 
deaux—take the superior qualities. Recently an important trade has 
been established between New York and Venezuela for this product, 
which is threatened in France with the application of the same maxi¬ 
mum duty levied on coffee if diplomatic relations between the two 
Republics are not reestablished. 

u Dried hides and skins are almost entirely shipped to New York, 
while cattle, with the exception of small lots shipped to the Lesser 
Antilles, are exported to Cuba.’ 1 

Imports from New York during the last six months of 1901.—In the six 

months from July 1 to December 31,1901, 59 steamships and 3 sailing 
vessels cleared from the port of New York bound for Venezuelan ports, 
carrying 433,253 packages of merchandise, weighing 19,336,597.34 
kilograms, valued at $1,449,849.89. During this period the consul- 
general of Venezuela at New York certified 1,755 consular invoices, 
covering the articles of merchandise shown in the following table: 


Articles. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Atps and fl.fjrie.nltnrn.l instruments. 

837 

22, 769. 56 

Barbed, wire . 

12,122 

487^ 689 

16, 730 

103,277. 50 

Beer end hops ._._. 

205 

Blankets . . 

832 

Butter . 

2,586 
1,635 
4,178 

143,647 

Clement, (Roman) . 

275,237 

493,855 

186,775.75 
70, 038 

93, 749 

175,781 

585, 699. 70 
751,726.56 

Coal .^. 

Cord n ee . 

6,437 

534 

Clnttnn drill eolored and white. 

tint ten drill r nil eh . . . 

901 

Drugs and perfumes.. 

3,114 

Fleetrie mn.o.hinery and supplies. 

5,184 
117,507 
92,091 
304 

Fine hardware, ete.. 

Flour . 

6,275,176 

Fornee . 

18,200 

ft lass ware nnd lam ns. 

1,168 

1 

57,522.22 

5.25 

ftnld enin ... 

TTflrdwflrft nnd vnhirlos _ . 

16,286 
53,570 

1,577,338.20 

If ernsen e ...... ... 

1,992,274 


26, 652 

L 246,452 

3, 583 

T<i vp n.nimnls _ _ _ .... 

fl 

Liquors. 

173 

8,685 


Value. 


a $7,572.59 
26,109. 40 
1,547.60 
69, 743.82 
37,369. 60 
2,581.00 
3, 462. 00 
38,352. 64 
33,376. 98 
35,690.00 
59, 360. 82 
96,597.13 
92,524.39 
205,978.80 
574.05 
5,718.35 
3,000.00 
102,631.98 
55,758.50 
229,473.54 
1,864.00 
1,381.00 


« Dollars. 
































312 


VENEZUELA. 


Articles. 


Lumber (rough).. 

Oil and paints. 

Printing supplies (paper, presses, and type) 

Provisions... 

Tobacco: 

Chewing tobacco. 

Cigarette fillings .. 

Leaf tobacco. 

Manufactured tobacco. 

Sailcloth and canvas. 

Sewing machines and parts thereof. 

Small fruits. 

Soap and candles. 

Sugar. 


Total 


« Dollars. 


Packages. 

Kilos. 

Value. 

10,979 

675,459 

a $16, 678.00 

1,414 

99,323.45 

10,642.83 

825 

155,999. 95 

10,763.55 

19,862 

871,152.95 

98,412. 60 

632 

13,014 

6,380.49 

216 

15,724 

5,251.00 

86 

3, 767 

2,378.47 

11 

673 

1,275.00 

579 

64,756 

25,282. 68 

412 

19,590.25 

7,576. 35 

49,148 

2,439,240 

82,452.10 

2,688 

388,725 

11,767.63 

73 

2,932 

361.00 

433,253 

19,336,597.34 

1,449,849.89 


Imports of cotton from Great Britain, 1898-1901. 
[Average price per yard, 4? cents.«] 



Quantity. 

Value. 

1898. 

Yards. 

33,872,100 
42,806, 000 
42,596, 800 
32,306,900 

m, 317,098.75 
1,530,840.30 
1,707,557.52 
1,479,785.00 

1899 . 

1900 . 

1901. 



a Annual statement of trade of the United Kingdom. b Dollars 


CARACAS DISTRICT TRADE, 1901. 

' The following is an abstract from the report of the British acting 
consul at Caracas: 

Imports.—The import trade showed two distinct phases in the dis¬ 
tricts of La Guaira and Puerto Cabello, judging from the reports of 
the vice-consuls at those places. At the former there was a slight 
increase, while at the latter port the decline has been pronounced. It 
should be borne in mind that the report of the trade through La 
Guaira is more or less a statement of the commercial movement of 
Caracas and the back country, in the same way that that of Puerto 
Cabello includes the town of Valencia and a large area. 

Within a short time a number of houses were built in Caracas of 
iron frame, with cement walls and the corresponding woodwork. This 
easily accounts for the increase in the imports of hardware, timber, 
and cement. The materials for the construction of these houses were 
all brought from the United States, as they could be obtained more 
quickly and cheaply from New York than from any other market. 

Exports.—In every product exported from the La Guaira and Puerto 
Cabello districts there was a great decrease. The coffee crop proved 
very poor in quantity owing to severe drought. From the same cause 
the cacao harvest, on which greater hopes were based, was much lower 
than the average. 








































Handbook of Venezuela. 



BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE PORT OF LA GUAIRA AND BREAKWATER. 





















COMMERCE 1901. 


313 


From a report published in a local paper referring to the exports at 
La Guaira, it appears that the greater part of the coffee shipped from 
this district last year went to New York. It amounted to nearly 40 
per cent of the total shipments. The tide of business, specially for 
the exportation of coffee, turned toward the United States as soon as 
the extra duty was imposed by France on the Venezuelan product. 

Twenty per cent of the coffee went to Hamburg, and the balance to 
Havre and other ports. 

Venezuelan cacao finds its best market in France. Of the 70,821 
bags shipped hence, about 57,000 bags went to the three ports of 
Havre, St. Nazaire, and Bordeaux. 

Hides and skins go nearly all to New York, whither 76,000 of the 
total of 84,000 were shipped. 

Cattle.—The export of cattle to Cuba continued during the last year 
from Puerto Cahello. The number shipped is an increase over pre¬ 
vious years and the highest since the trade began. In 1899 the total 
from Puerto Cabello and Guanta was 64,083; in 1900 it had dropped 
at the former port to 18,774, but last year the total shipment reached 
the high figure of 66,049 head, which were conveyed to Habana and 
Santiago de Cuba on 74 steamers flying the Norwegian flag. 

This trade will probably continue for some time longer and might 
even increase, were it not for the great trouble and expense in bring¬ 
ing the animals from the interior to the port of embarkation. The 
expenses amount to about <£2 per head placed on board ship, and they 
are sold in Cuba on the average for about £5. 


LA GUAIRA TRADE, 1901. 

The Commercial Relations of the United States (Vol. I, 1902, pp. 
813-815) publishes a report of the United States consul at La Guaira 
regarding the trade of said port, of which the following is an abstract: 


Imports from principal countries. 


Tons. 


United States of America. 24, 613. 8 

Great Britain. 13, 077. 4 

Germany. 7, 666.1 

France. 1,567. 7 

Spain. 1,539.3 

Holland. 3, 680. 5 

Italy. 812. 6 


The foregoing figures show that the United States, besides keeping- 
first place in exports to Venezuela, has increased her trade considerably 
over the year 1900. Great Britain, which follows, has gained in about 
the same proportion, and Germany is again a good third. 









314 


VENEZUELA. 


Imports by articles. 

Packages. 

Metric 

tons. 

Merchandise. 

137,512 
55,180 
306,639 
55,267 
9,108 
19,110 
20,261 

8.609.9 
2,250 

17,146.4 
1,940.6 

538.6 
1,696.3 

3.419.9 
16,674.2 

129.3 

562.6 

Hardware. 

Provisions and liquors. 

Kerosene.*.. 

Oils (other than kerosene). 

Timber. 

Cement. 

Coal.. 

Machinery. 

Railway materials. 

Total. 

714 

8,447 

612,238 

52,967.9 



Exports at La Gnaira for year ended December 31, 1901. 


Goods. 

Packages. 

Metric 

tons. 

Bags of coffee. 

120,217 
70,085 
80,058 
8,517 

7,290.6 
3, 774.2 
782 
677 

Bass of cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundries. 

Total. 

278,877 

12.523.8 




Coasting trade for year ended December 31, 1901. 

IMPORTS. 


Merchandise 

Timber. 

Coal. 


Metric tons. 
. 14, 054. 7 
- 2,741 

248. 3 


Total 


17, 044 


EXPORTS. 


Merchandise 


5,584. 4 


Thousands of head of cattle have been shipped to Cuba within the 
last few years, and this item alone is a source of wealth to Venezuela, 
where, owing to the continuous warm climate, cattle can be raised 
with little care and expense. No housing of cattle is necessary, and 
on the vast plains of the interior is room for millions of animals, prac¬ 
tically insuring an income to their owners without the outlay of money, 
excepting for fences and for shipment after the cattle are ready for 
the market. 

The great mineral resources are untouched, owing to the lack of 
railways to the mines. All these things would be changed if capital 
were insured guarantees, and. if properly developed, the minerals of 
this country would be a source of income and of employment to many. 


Classirication of imports. 


Merchandise. 

Hardware. 

Provisions and liquors 


Kilos. 

8,609,296 
2, 250,033 
17,146,417 














































COMMERCE 1901. 


315 


Kilos. 

Oils other than kerosene. 538, 600 

Kerosene. 1,940,650 

Timber. 1,696,271 

Cement. 3,419, 920 

Coal. 16,674,163 

Machinery. 129, 311 

Railway materials. 562,631 


Total. 52,967,962 


Foreign importations for 1901 and countries of origin. 


Germany 

Spain. 

United States 

France . 

Holland. 

England. 

Italy. 

Belgium_ 

Colombia 

Denmark 


Kilos. 

7, 666,138 
1,539, 330 
24,613, 870 
1,567, 759 
3, 680, 502 
13, 077, 393 
812, 643 
167 
1,435 
8, 725 


Total 


52, 967, 962 


La Guaira, British, report on trade, 1901.—The British vice-consul 
reports as follows (abstract): 

During the year two important measures were decreed by the Gov¬ 
ernment, which affected both the import and export trade to a consid¬ 
erable degree. 

The first was a resolution, coming in force on May 1, 1901, which 
abolished the export duties on coffee, cacao, and cotton, and raised by 
12T per cent the existing territorial duty, which made the addition to 
the ordinary import duty 25 per cent. 

Imports.—The second was in July, when corn and beans were 
admitted free of duty for a period of about two months, which expired 
on September 5. 

Taking the different lines of imports in the order observed in the 
tables, we find— 


Increase. 


Merchandise. 

Provisions. 

Hardware. 

Oils (not kerosene) 

Timber. 

Cement. 

Coal. 

Machinery. 

Railway materials. 


Tons. 
1,834 
2, 835 
985 
194 
588 
1,640 
4, 396 
34 
354 
































316 


VENEZUELA. 


In view of these figures it seems paradoxical to sa} r that trade had 
gone back during the year, yet this is, nevertheless, the fact. 

The increase in the importation of merchandise—in which is included 
cloth stuffs of every description, fancy articles, etc.—can only be 
accounted for by the desire of a few large houses to avoid the in¬ 
crease of 121 per cent in the duties, to take effect in May, which caused 
them to import largely in the preceding month. 

In provisions the increased importation appears principally in the 
months of August and September, and is due to the enormous quan¬ 
tity of corn brought from the United States in view of the decree 
alluded to above. 

In hardware is included all iron work, and as several buildings 
with iron frames were imported from the United States during the 
year, it is to this circumstance that we must attribute the increase of 
985 tons. 

Coal.—Coal is the only article which has really been in demand 
during the year. The total increase in the receipts amounts to 1,396 
tons, and the vessels engaged in the trade numbered 13 more than in 
the preceding year. 

Exports.—It is in the table of exports that we see the great differ¬ 
ence in the trade of this port during 1901. 

The coffee crop was far below the average, and the quantity 
shipped was 3,010 tons less than in 1900. Besides this the prices 
obtained for the article were very low. 

Cacao also showed a decline in the shipments, amounting to 1,992 
tons. 

In hides there was a falling off of 32,169, equal to 293 tons. 

Coasting trade.—The failure of the corn and cacao crops referred 
to affected somewhat the volume of the incoming trade with the coast, 
and the total decline was equal to 1,761 tons. There was, on the other 
hand, a great increase in the timber trade. 

British trade.—The total quantity of imports from the United King¬ 
dom shows a rise of 3,261 tons, but this must be attributed to the 
increase of the coal trade, and it would therefore seem that the balance 
of commerce with the United Kingdom has remained more or less 
stationary. 

The La Guaira and Caracas Kailwa} 7 Company (British) continues to 
keep up the traffic between this port and the capital, and by dint of 
very good management is able, notwithstanding the falling off In trade, 
to clear expenses and pay a small dividend. 

The La Guaira Harbor Corporation, the only other British com¬ 
pany established here, is also very ably managed, and it facilitates in 
every possible way the shipping coming here, which finds a safe and 
commodious anchorage under the shelter of the breakwater. 


COMMERCE 1901. 


317 


Importation, exportation, and coasting trade at la Guaira for the year 1901 . 


FOREIGN IM PO RTATI ON. 


Articles. 

Quantity. 

Merchandise. 

Packages. 
137,'512 
55,180 
306,639 
9,108 
55,267 
19,110 
20,261 

Metric tons. 
8,610 
2,250 
17,146 
538 
1,940 
1,696 
3,419 
_ 16,674 
129 
562 

Hardware. 

Provisions and liquors. . 

Oils, other than kerosene. 

Kerosene. 

Timber. 

Cement. 

Coal. 

Machinery. 

714 
8,447 

Railway materials. 



Ships carrying — Number. 

General cargo.>... 210 

Goal. 20 

Timber. 1 


FOREIGN EXPORTATION. 


Goods. 

Quantity. 

Bags of coffee. 

Packages. 
120,217 
70,085 
80,058 
8,517 

Metric tons. 
7,290 
3,774 
782 
677 

Bags of cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundries... 



COASTING TRADE. 


Articles. 

Quantity 

Importa¬ 

tion. 

Exporta¬ 

tion. 

M ptg.Vi sin riisp. . 

Metric tons. 
14,055 
2,741 
248 

Metric tons. 
5,584 

Timtior . 







PUERTO CABELLO TRADE, 1901.« 


The United States consul at Puerto Cabello reports that the value 
of the import trade for the year ended June 30, 1901, was figured at 
$2,370,450. The export trade for the same period amounted to 
$3,337 ,223. The total trade was distributed, according to countries of 
origin, as follows: 


Country. 

Imports. 

Exports. 


b $845,802 
504,666 
489, 607 
187,023 
141,646 
135,553 
66,153 

b $10,714 
739,692 
125,296 
140,303 
881,479 
241,559 
11,388 
1,186,792 








Total . 


2,370,450 

3,337,223 



a Com. Rel. U. S., Vol. I, 1901, pp. 716-723. 


b Dollars. 









































































318 


VENEZUELA. 


The following table shows the total quantity of imports and exports 
of Puerto Cabello for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901: 


Country. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

United States.. . . 

Pounds. 
10,438,428 
6,163, 366 
796, 527 
717,585 
1, 977,325 
1,645,817 
4,235,784 

Pounds. 

7,599,256 
2,896,400 
12,656,166 
417,424 
1,556,546 
2,025, 710 
585,843 
32,712, 736 

Germany. 

France. 

Italy. 

Netherlands. 

Spain. 

England. 

Cuba. 

Total. 


25,974,732 

59,8.50,091 



The imports from the United States were: 


Articles. 

Amount. 

Articles. 

✓ 

Amount. 

Apples. 

Pounds. 

16,724 
24,545 
175,049 
20,267 
21,437 
67,954 

Machinery. 

Pounds. 
66,843 
70,130 
2,695,204 
12,324 
36,449 
289,238 
217,824 
547,067 
37,123 
48, 741 
50,982 
117,878 
135,737 
190,625 

Beer. 

Oatmeal. 

Butter. 

Kerosene. 

Canned goods. 

Paint. 

Creoline. 

Potatoes. 

Crackers. 

Rice. 

Cornstarch. 

83i 785 
28,952 
746,070 
247,360 
12,113 

3,535,413 
92,573 
204,133 
75,266 
441,064 

Rope. 

Candles. 

Rosin. 

Dry goods. 

Railway supplies. 

Drugs and medicines. 

Spices.. 

Electric-light materials. 

Tobacco . 

Flour. 

Twine. 

Fish, dried. 

Timber, pine. 

Hardware. 

Wire, barbed. 

Hams. 


Lard. 

Total. 

«10,438,428 




« Valued at $504,666. 


The exports to the United States were: 


Articles. 

Amount. 

Articles. 

Amount. 

Coffee. 

Pounds. 

5,991,026 
46,215 
585 
1,179,763 

Skins: 

Deer. 

Pounds. 
57,601 
323,702 
364 

Cacao . 

Goat. 

Ginger. 

Tonka beans . 

Hides, ox. 

Total. 


a 7,599,256 


« Valued at $739,692. 


The consul states that England leads in the sales of dry goods, hard¬ 
ware, and railway supplies, securing this trade through the efforts of 
commercial travelers. There are no English or American business 
houses in this district. 

The industries of Puerto Cabello are: The manufacture of hats 
(straw and palm), leather of all kinds, shoes, soap, oil of cocoanut, 
candles (tallow and stearin), beer, rum, ice, patent medicines, cigars 
and cigarettes; an excellent grade of tobacco, grown in Venezuela, is 
used. 
























































































COMMERCE 1901. 


319 


All these industries are protected by a high tariff. Mines of gold, 
copper, and coal have been discovered near Puerto Cabello, but only 
the copper mine has been worked. A fine quality of marble, said to 
be superior to the Italian, is quarried just east of Puerto Cabello and 
used for the local manufacture of monuments, table tops, slabs, 
mantels, etc. 

An electric-light company, established ten years ago, supplies the 
city with light. The manager is an American. 

The port is connected with interior towns b} T two railway systems. 
The Puerto Cabello and Valencia Railway (British corporation) has 
tracks through the city* to the wharves and connects the port with 
Valencia, a city of over 40,000 population. There, the Caracas and 
Valencia Railway (German corporation), makes connection with 
Caracas. The Bolivar Railwa} T Company (British) connects with 
Puerto Cabello by means of a daily steamer from its terminal station, 
Tucacas. This railway extends 100 miles into the interior of Vene¬ 
zuela, and unites Puerto Cabello with all the towns and cities near it. 


Imports of Puerto Cabello consular district for the fiscal year ended June SO, 1901. 


Articles. 

United 

States. 

Ger¬ 

many. 

France. 

Italy. 

Holland. 

Spain. 

England. 

Total. 


Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Agricultural imple- 









ments . 


41,512 



5,808 


200,848 

248,168 

Ammunition. 

1,447 

15j503 




16^ 950 

Apples. 

16,724 






16j724 

Bran 

1,659 







l' 659 

Books. 

44 







44 

Brewery supplies _ _ 

1, 630 

13,552 






15,182 

Blacking . 

624 






' 624 

Bottles, empty. 


41,039 



506 



41,5-15 

Bn rrel s 

1,958 

3,300 






5,258 

Ba rl ey 

194 

12, 528 






12,722 

Beer .__. 

24,545 

262, 946 





94,488 

381,979 

Butter 

175’049 

152' 504 

308 

9,706 

836 


338,403 

Claimed goods. 

20,267 

9,389 

10,795 

2,338 


885 

435 

44,109 

flreolene 

21,437 

4,582 





26,019 

CYm f option orv._ 

5,410 

5,202 

17,431 

4,215 


9,218 

7,063 

48,539 

Clement. 

7,656 

826,773 


61,380 

60.887 

127,532 

1,084,228 

Corks 

26 

27;599 

904 

176 


28,705 

C.i cm reties 

242 




629 


'871 

Clignret.te paper. 




2,970 

1,507 

12,480 

2,583 

19,540 

dmokors 

67, 954 

47,110 


99 

2,640 

317 

118,120 

Clom stare Vi 

83, 785 







83, 785 

CIVieese 

321 

19, 398 

2,145 

3,225 

73, 636 

152 


98,877 

nfl 1 os 

28,952 

114 



8,888 



37,954 

W i eks 

730 





730 

C^nrrlsj nln.vimr 






1,223 


1,223 

Claris hand 

715 






'715 

Tii sin feeta nt 


759 






759 



32 524 






32,524 

Dry goods. 

746,070 

829’ 893 

141,466 

115,506 

423,108 

78,150 

2,833,525 

5,167,718 

Drugs and medicines 

247,360 

216,273 

40, 959 

8,811 

620,829 

1,595 

241,434 

1,377,261 

Electric-light mate- 










12,113 

6 380 






18,493 


40,385 






40,385 


3,535, 413 






3, 535,413 


31 






31 


33 

442 






475 


981 

3 395 




607 


4,983 

\J X \J Jitlllii .... 

645 

305 

5 825 

2,683 


17,058 


26,516 

r i in is, vi i ••••••>• 

7 974 

587 

2 945 

176 



11,682 


7 264 


612 


1,177 


9; 053 

A’ 1 S 1111 lint i<v x nuo • - - 

92 573 

5,889 

187 

1,089 


31 

75 

99,844 


6,113 





6,113 



435 



323 


758 




961 





961 

Gold. 

37 







37 















































































































320 


VENEZUELA 


Imports of Puerto Cctbello consular district for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1001 —Cont’d. 


Articles. 

United 

States. 

Ger¬ 

many. 

France. 

Italy. 

Holland. 

Spain. 

England 

Guns... 

Pounds. 

2,272 
204,133 
75,266 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Hardware. 

464,915 
627 

67,731 

60,347 

15,565 
130 


400,672 

Hams. 


Hat materials. 


519 

1,591 


Iron, galvanized_ 



8,283 
118,645 
8,789 



Liquors. 


4,723 

8,096 

1,368 

378 

1,441 

1,760 

1,319 

Leather. 

3,458 
441,064 
18,066 

Lard. 




Miscellaneous. 

16,091 

1,590 

1,973 

114 

22 

640 


Marble. 


Matches. 


33,719 


3,065 



Meat, salt. 

3,579 





Mustard. 

68 

71,295 

37 





Machinery. 

66,843 
114 
1,223 
70,130 

2,695,204 
4,387 


4,189 

440 

27,647 

25,106 

Olives. 

5,117 

939 
4,624 

Oats. 

273 

222 


Oatmeal. 




Oil: 

Kerosene. 







Sweet. 

2,343 
543 
3, 929 

46,807 

283,817 


20,471 


Almond. 



Linseed. 




3,617 



Bone. 

3,590 
9,167 
4,578 
974 





Machine. 







Onions. 

2,823 

2,988 

1,122 

12,624 

6,006 

11,902 

Oakum. 

Pickles . 

3,901 
32,153 
469,260 
69, 524 
16,946 
176 

10,456 



24 

6,398 
684 

Patti t. 

12,324 
1,914 
36,449 
8,160 
4, 917 


1,456 

2,510 

1,078 

Paper, wrapping.... 
Potatoes. 

268 
9,566 
22, 477 


997 



Perfumery 

953 



Plants. 




Peas. 




884 


Plated ware. 



29 

1,012 

. 



Rice. 

289,238 
217, 824 
547,067 
37,123 
5,438 
638 
1,608 
48, 741 

1,995,969 
3, 769 

3,463 

4,857 

169 

1,254 

19,338 
9,022 

Rope. 

Rosin. 


. 

. 

Railway supplies- 

Seeds. 

40,341 
13,079 
275 



490,074 


241,139 

11,662 
2,145 
3,047 
14,638 

6,743 
97 

3,989 
2,047 
9,178 
20,418 

Sirups. 



Sauces . 

. 


Spices. 

27,462 
5,610 
80,086 
20,880 

15,035 


592 

Stearin . 

224,147 
2,090 
719 

Sardines . 


64,425 

2,171 

66 

2,417 

1,355 

119,889 

1,133 

891 


Stationery. 

1,933 

1,965 

Statuary . 

Sugar. 

229 

891 

449 

360 




Scales. 






Sausage. 

1,861 

363 

2,972 


411 

9,535 
255 


Stone, artificial. 



Strings, instrument. 


55 





Saddletrees. 

228 





Safes. 

2,310 






Telegraph suppl ies.. 
Tea. 

2,079 






130 






Trees. 

158 
50, 982 




- 


Tobacco. 

73 
2, 330 
34,126 

429 



376 


Tombstones. 

2,180 
8,083 



Twine. 

117,878 
135,537 

3, 774 



614 

Timber. 


666 

4,374 

273 

Tallow. 




10,373 


Vinegar. 


3,804 
1,252 
123 

58,445 

6,175 
420 


427 

Vermicelli. 




Vegetables. 

851 





Water: 

Mineral. 

4,321 
1,608 

3,126 


638 


Orange, Florida. 
Wire barbed.< 




190,625 
1,917 
1,967 






Wines. 

39,809 

153,193 

164,288 

2,648 

1,222,806 

8,305 

Wagon materials.... 
Windmills. 

7,082 
1,386 






Yarn 















Total. 


Pounds. 

2, 272 
1,213, 363 
76,023 
2,110 
8,283 
129,256 
20, 721 
441,064 
38, 382 
• 114 
36,784 
3,579 
105 
167,873 
33,817 
6,342 
70,130 

2,695,204 
357,825 
543 
7, 546 
3,590 
9,167 
42,043 
974 
20,779 
46,617 
474, 949 
116,617 
48,536 
5,093 
884 
29 

2,314,046 
231,869 
547,067 
808,677 
41,511 
5,202 
13,833 
126,886 
229,757 
266,556 
31,218 
2,246 
589 
891 
6,056 
9,535 
310 
228 
2,310 
2,079 
130 
158 
51,860 
4,510 
164,475 
136,203 
14, 747 
10,679 
1, 672 
974 

66,530 
1,608 
190,625 
1,592, 966 
1,967 
7,082 
1,386 








































































































































































































COMMERCE 1901 


321 


Exports of Puerto Cahello consular district for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901. 


Articles. 

United States. 

Germany. 

France. 

Italy. 

Coffee. 

Pounds. 
5,991,026 
46,215 

Pounds. 
1,273,583 
185,757 

Pounds. 
11,455,550 
746,143 

Pounds. 

70,597 
12,003 

Cacao.. 

Cattle. 

Cocoanutmeat. 


9, 011 



Copper, scrap. 




Colton. 


4,204 
52,316 

- 


Dividivi. 



43,722 

Fruits. 



Ginger. 

585 




Horns. 

11, 492 


6,138 

2,616 

Hides: 

Ox. 

1,179, 763 
57,601 
323, 702 

10,008 
3,135 
93,000 

Deer. 


Goat. 

10,578 


Horses. 


Iron, scrap. 


14,744 

90 

230, 111 

Leather, sole. 


Miscellaneous. 


51,864 
11,165 

7,202 

38,258 

Machinery, returned. 


Peruvian bark. 


3,306 
190,948 


Seed,spurge . 


15,935 

13,979 

Tonca beans... 

364 

Timber. 

655,751 

146,784 






Articles. 

Holland. Spain. 

England. 

Cuba. 

Total. 

Coffee . 

Pounds. 
467,291 
1,133 
421,182 
3,630 

Pounds. 

1,814,450 

210,117 

Pounds. 
11,999 
516, 956 

Pounds. 

2,671 

Pounds. 
21,087,167 
1,718,324 
33,067,588 
55,539 
7,592 
4,204 
96,038 
339,765 
585 
17,630 

1,215,841 
62,140 
427,280 
63,659 
261,174 
1,100 
238,771 
11,165 
3,306 
225,475 
802 
944,936 

Cacao . 

Cattle. 

32,646,406 

Goeoarmt, meat. 


42,898 
7,592 

Connor, soran. 



Colton . 




Tlividivi ... 





Fruits ... 

339,765 




Ginger.. .... 




TTnrns ... 





Hides: 

Ox . 

23,454 
1,404 




Deer ... 




rtna t. . 




Horses . 




63,659 


15,185 

1,100 

134,950 

1,044 


T,pn thpr snip 



Vriceel In neons ___ 

99 

6,398 










4,613 
438 
142,401 

















Imports of Puerto Cahello consular district for the six months ended December 31, 1901. 


Articles. 

United States. 

England. 

Germany. 

France. 


Pounds. 

913 

Pounds. 

109,472 

Pounds. 

9,864 

Pounds. 


10,461 



1,621 




2,334 





'486 





486 




Drcvviiig supplies. 

70 






1,718 





528 





1,738 



101 

24,178 

109,760 



78,139 
825 


48,070 






1,392 
5,581 





110 

6,910 

9,653 



1,777 


P.rvn f ppfi rvn prv .. 

1,124 

1,427 

1,027 

8,505 


154,864 

276,410 

319,209 



4a—04-21 

























































































































































322 


VENEZUELA 


Imports of Puerto CabeUo-eonsular district , etc. —Continued. 


Articles. 


r 


Corks . 

Coal. 

Crackers. 

Cornstarch. 

Cheese. 

Candles. 

Cereals. 

Com. 

Demijohns. 

Dry goods. 

Drugs. 

Electric-light materials. 

Earthenware. 

Flour . 

Furniture. 

Fruits, dried. 

Fish, dried. 

Firecrackers. 

Glue. 

Guns. 

Hardware. 

Hams. 

Hats and materials. 

Ink. 

Iron, galvanized. 

Leather. 

Lamp wicks. 

Lard. 

Liquors. 

Liquors, sweet. 

Lavender. 

Miscellaneous. 

Matches. 

Meat, salt. 

Machinery. 

Monuments. 

Olives. 

Oatmeal. 

Oil: 

Kerosene. 

Sweet. 

Linseed. 

Machine. 

Onions. 

Pickles. 

Paint. 

Paper . 

Potatoes. 

Perfumery. 

Phonographs. 

Plaster. 

Rice. 

Rope. 

Rosin. 

Railway supplies. 

Seeds . 

Sirups. 

Statuary. 

Strings, musical instruments 

Soda. 

Spices. 

Sugar . 

Scales . 

Sardines. 

Sausage. 

Shoes. 

Sago palm. 

Tobacco... 

Tar. 

Twine. 

Timber. 

Tallow. 

Vinegar. 

Vegetables. 

Water, mineral. 

Wire, barbed. 

Wines. 

Yarn. 

Total. 


England. 

Germany. 

France. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

68 
7.097 
9,851 

Pounds. 

603,504 

1,243 

116 


2,912 1,100 








9 422 
185| 101 
70,468 

209,657 

63 

1,128 

1.012 

543 


499,494 
30.168 
22.323 

49,293 

14,817 

3,179 





5,031 




. 1 

1,001 




50,230 

136,107 
492 
4,796 
761 

13.118 

2,774 


220 

13,127 

2,589 

807 

561 

. 



580 

1,949 

118 

26.008 

470 


nited States. 


Pounds. 


36,374 

21,850 

88 

7,268 

322,763 

163,658 


95,988 
46.197 
19,483 
145 

1,621,626 

396 

3,401 

10,821 

1,128 


99 

69,742 

34,034 

90 


1,999 

•294 

2.270 

238,092 


112 

7*246 


726 
9,495 


204 

1,478 

949,482 
2,695 
345 
11,572 
1,372 


4.435 
2,849 
19,828 
2,939 
147 



8,197 

4,173 






165 

6.129 




895 

600 

3,051 


3,753 


7,495 

22.074 

50 

132 

2,688 
106,409 
16,057 



4,626 


IS. 160 


8,291 


1,179 


8.148 
1.320 
2,853 


3,370 

63.654 

301,296 

495 

9.266 


1,185,362 . 


83,327 


4.147 


193 

127 


14.502 
9,935 


2.318 

*"i07' 


11,352 
3,896 
20,990 
18. 315 
803 


415 

ii3,*506 


4. -534, 881 


55,426 


613 


321 


1.800.335 


13,384 
118 . 


11,129 
488 
99 

2,472 . 


7.396 
2,114 


334 


2,566,799 


9.424 


3,047 
121 
741 


607 



730 

92 

15,545 

1,311 

37 

1,368 

2,637 

2,862 

141,119 


325.213 


Total value. United States currency. 8150,816.95 8135,501.63 8138,035.53 836,276.49 

_ 









































































































































































COMMERCE 1901 


323 


Imports of Puerto Cabello consular district, etc. —Continued. 


Articles. 

Holland. 

Spain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Agricultural implements. 

Pounds. 

5,830 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 
126,079 
10,461 
1,621 
2,334 
486 

Ammunition... 



Advertisements. 




Apples. 




Bran. 




Brewing supplies. 




486 

Blacking. 




70 

Blueing. 




1,718 

528 

Books. 

. 



Barley. 




1,738 
134,039 
128,952 
825 

Beer i. 




Butter. 

2,215 


528 

Carts, hand. 


Carriages. 




1,392 
24,202 
1,777 

Canned goods. 

52 

165 

1,731 

Creolin. 

Confectionery. 


787 

440 

13;310 
770,232 
68 

Cement. 

19,749 

Corks. 




Coal. 




610,601 
48,142 
21,850 
40,049 
7,268 

Crackers. 


558 


Cornstarch. 



Cheese. 

35,316 


633 

Candles. 

. 

Cereals. 




322', 763 
163, 658 
9,714 

Corn. 




Demijohns. 



292 

Dry goods. 

101,596 
196,834 

23,630 

. 

5,343 

960, 445 
358,484 
41.806 
212,981 
1,621,689 
1,524 
11,210 
11,473 
1,128 
1,001 
99 

Drugs. 

F,1 eetri c.-l igh t. m ateri a 1 s. 


. 

Earthenware. 



. 

Flour . 




Furniture ... 




Fruits, dried... 


396 

1,370 

50 

Fish dried ... 

59 

Fireeraekers... 


nine.... 

. 

. 



Puns . 




TT a rd wfl re ..... 

134 


1,245 

270,576 
34,526 
8,161 
981 

Ttsims .... 


■Rats snd materials.. 



501 

Tnk . 



T rnn fra 1 va n i zed ..... 




15,126 
3,444 
3,077 
238,092 
29,634 

Feather . 




T.arrm wielrs _ ..... 




Lard - .. 




T.innnrs .... 

921 

176 


T.innnrs swppf ___ 


2,248 

506 


2,948 

602 

T.avpdHpt 



MisnpIlflnpniiR .... 


52 

294 

15,783 

ATatehes . 




4,173 





726 





15,789 




5, 500 

5, .500 

niirpQ 


9,605 

1,236 

24,205 




1,478 

Oil: 




949,482 
93,710 



17,842 

63,987 



3,996 





15,325 



1,067 


9,934 


5,830 


29,133 




7,255 

Paper ... 

3,161 

3,207 

6,080 

129,854 


37,205 
10,567 



149 


:::. I . 


147 



393 


393 




1,498 

1,190,230 





63,6.54 





301,296 





83,822 



497 

501 

14,604 



330 


457 



413 


413 



202 


202 





69,928 



6,043 

3,880 

42,666 





118 





2,318 



11,787 


26,029 































































































































324 


VENEZUELA. 


Imports of Puerto Cabello consular district, etc. —Continued. 


Articles. 

Holland. 

Spain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Sausage. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

642 

Pounds. 
1,358 
840 
2,472 
12,804 
11,292 
29,649 
18,315 
803 
2,331 
544 
17,133 
113,506 
350, 999 
655 

Shoes. 



Sago palm. 




Tobacco. 


1, 452 


Tar . 



Twine . 


895 

4,430 

Timber. 


Tallow. 




Vinegar. 


290 


Vegetables. 



Water, mineral. 



220 

Wire, barbed. 



Wines. 

715 

153,555 

50,111 

Yarn. 

Total. 




372,412 

236,096 

150,727 

9,986,463 

Total value, United States currency. 

$48,386.45 

$44,105. 71 

$11,556.06 

$564,678.82 


The British vice-consul at Puerto Cabello reports as follows (ab¬ 
stract) : 

The following are the official figures of imports at Puerto Cabello 
during the year 1901: 


From— 

Value. 

Currency. 

Sterling. 

United Kingdom. 

Bolivars.n 
1,624,084.41 
1,602,783.23 
1,300,526.63 
874,383. 46 
821, 464. 75 
110, 630.16 
86,661.93 
15,337. 75 

£ s. d. 

64,320 3 5 

63,476 11 3 

51,506 0 1 

34,629 1 0 

32,533 5 2 

4,381 7 11 

3,432 3 1 

607 8 9 

Germany.. 

United States. 

France. 

Holland. 

Italy. 

Spam. 

Other countries. 

Total. 

6,435,872.32 

254,886 0 8 



o 25.25 bolivars = £1 sterling. 


Imports, according to these figures have decreased considerably, 
showing a reduction of fully 25 per cent as compared with those of 
the year previous, and of more than 40 per cent compared with those 
of 1898. 

Shipping.— Almost all the cattle steamers loading between the island 
of Cuba and this portion of the continent are Norwegian. 

Exports. —Figures for exports at Puerto Cabello during the year 
1901 are the following: 


Tons. 

Coffee. 9,281 

Cacao. 456 

Hides. 540 

Deerskins. 35 

Goatskins. 261 

Copra... 75 

Old metals. 61 































































COMMERCE 1901. 


325 


Tons. 


Quina. 13 

Lumber. 374 

Divi-divi. 7 

Cotton. 4 

Seeds. 19 


MARACAIBO TRADE, 1901. 


The United States consul at Maracaibo reports as follows : a 

Coffee.—Coffee, the main staple, has been shipped in a larger quan¬ 
tity than in the 3 r ear before, though the prevalent low prices prevented 
large quantities of coffee and other produce from being shipped by the 
river and lake steamers from the district of Cucuta in Colombia, as 
well as from the Tachira district in Venezuela to this port. 

Shipments during the calendar year ended December 31,1901, have 
been 53,312,611 pounds, at a valuation of $1,355,102.81 gold, wTiile the 
year before 12,998,325 pounds were shipped valued at $1,096,561.80. 

Hides.—The export of hides increased from 756,161 pounds, at an 
invoice value of $139,977.59 gold, in 1900, to 950,761 pounds, valued 
at $157,887.26 in 1901. 

The order issued in September last regarding sanitary inspection 
and health certificates for hides to be introduced into the United States 
has had the effect of improving the condition of these articles. 

Skins.—Goatskins to the amount of 300,299 pounds, at an invoice 
value of $73,006.25 have been shipped, against 267,262 pounds at a 
valuation of $66,987.80, last year. 

Six thousand and eighty-three pounds of sheepskins, at a value of 
$731.38, were forwarded. 

Calfskins weighing 750 pounds, valued at $128.60, were invoiced. 

The last two articles have not figured in the exports in former years, 
nor have cattle hoofs, of which 5,231 pounds, valued at $208.50, were 
forwarded this season. 

Wool.—Was shipped to the amount of 10,828 pounds, valued at 
$119.58. 

Wood.—One million six hundred and twenty-three thousand three 


hundred and seventy-three pounds of boxwood, valued at $9,271.98; 
cedar wood (in large logs, weight unknown), valued at $3,865.71, and 
ebonv wood, weighing 111,810 pounds, valued at $809.61, were the 
principal shipments in this line. There were also smaller shipments 
of vera, lignum vitae, carreto, and chichiriviche woods. 


a Com. Eel. U. S., 1901, Vol. I, 714-716. 









326 


VENEZUELA. 


The British acting vice-consul at Maracaibo reports as follows 
(abstract): 

Coffee.—The export of coffee has amounted to— 


Year. 

Quantity. 

1901. 

Bags. 
422,386 
345,471 
344,328 
441,579 

Tons. 

25,626 
20,050 
20,268 
26,494 

1900 . 

1899 . 

1898 . 



The average price of coffee per 100 pounds f. o. b. Maracaibo, may 
be calculated as 26s., against 26s. for 1900; 25s. for 1899, 27s. for 1898, 
and 44s. for 1897. 

The value of exports of coffee in 1901 amounted to £591,112, against 
£540,707 in 1900, £543,243 in 1899, and £772,584 in 1898. 

Hides.—There was exported in 1901, 45,472 hides, against 34,793 
hides during 1900. The value of export was £22,800, against £30,430 
in 1900. 

Goatskins.—The export of goatskins has increased, amounting to 139 
tons, against 121 tons in 1900. 

Deerskins.—Seven and three-fourths tons of deerskins were ex¬ 
ported in 1901, against 4-£- tons in 1900. 

Balsam copaiba.—In 1901 the export of balsam copaiba amounted to 
40f tons, against 36^ tons in 1901. 

Fish sounds.—The export of fish sounds shows a decrease. There 
were exported 36 tons, against 43 tons during 1900. 

Cacao.—The export of cacao in 1901 amounted to 154 tons, with a 
value of £8,370, against 184 tons in 1900, with a value of £10,800. 

Quina bark.—The quina bark export has increased. It amounted to 
6^ tons, against 4 tons in 1900. 

Dividivi.—Business has been good during the } T ear 1901 in dividivi. 
Prices improved at the end of the year in consequence of the heavy 
demand in Europe. There were shipped from here in 1901 about 
3,400 tons, against 1,800 tons in 1900. 

Asphaltum.—American asphalt manufacturers bought a big mine near 
the River Limon, and are building a railroad from this mine to the 
lake. They also purchased the necessary machinery in order to refine 
the raw material here. The export will begin probably during 1902. 












COMMERCE 1901. 


327 


General produce exported from Maracaibo during the years 1901 and 1900 . 


Articles. 

1901. 

1900. 

Coffee.bags.. 

Cacao.do_ 

Quina bark.packages.. 

Hides.number.. 

Goatskins.packages.. 

Deerskins.do_ 

Copaiba.do_ 

Fustic. 

422,386 
3,279 
136 
45,472 
1,830 
84 
1,029 

Metric tons. 
25,626 
154 
6* 
456 
139 

7* 
40i 
6,272 
3,368 
283 
36 

345,471 
3,885 
95 

34,793 
1,426 
50 
899 

Metric tons. 
20,829 
184 

4 

338 
121 
4J 
36* 
5,421 
1,781 
274 
. 43 

Dividivi. 



Brown sugar.bags.. 

Fish sounds.do 

10,893 

504 

7,163 

533 


CIUDAD BOLIVAR TRADE, 1901. 

The following is an abstract from the British vice-consul’s report 
on the trade and commerce of the consular district of Ciudad Bolivar 
for the the year 1901: 

The total trade with foreign countries (imports and exports) amounts 
to £706,388 for the year. This shows an increase over the previous 
year of £9,375, while if compared with the average of £621,713 of the 
previous ten years, 1891-1900, the increase in the volume of trade is 
£81,615. 

Imports.—The imports are £3,296 in excess of those for 1900. It is 
impossible to trace accurately the countries of origin, as some foreign 
goods come in British ships, while some British goods come in foreign 
ships, and no complete record is kept as to the country of manufacture 
or production. 

Exports.—The total exports for the year under review were £110,293. 
None of the various articles calls for special comment with the excep¬ 
tion of the heron feathers (aigrettes). These show a decrease, com¬ 
pared with the previous year, of 3,798 kilos in weight, and £25,507 in 
value. 

Gold mines.—The gold-mining industry in the Yuruari Territory 
has not shown any advance. 

Banking.—The want of a bank in this consular district continues to 
be felt, as the entire absence of financial facilities for traders restricts 
enterprise and commerce. 



























328 


VENEZUELA. 


Principal articles of export from Ciudad Bolivar during the years 1900-1901. 


Articles. 

1900. 

1901. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Cacao.. 

Kilos. 

38,481 
13,107 
8,474 
47, 730 
1,205,612 
1,495,937 
35,169 

£2,327 
431 
860 
11,561 
185,141 
80,513 
2,985 

Kilos. 

33,810 
66,997 
16,287 
142,797 
1,164,778 
1,486,582 
52,192 
12,060 
842 
63 
7,571 
57,008 
2,013 
25,542 

£1,924 
1,828 
1,578 
31,363 
167,574 
81,100 
4,336 
545 
89,151 
190 
904 
1,865 
10,375 
937 

Coffee. 

Copaiba oil. 

Rubber (Para). 

Rubber (Balata). 

Hides .... 

Deerskins. 

Other skins. . 

Gold bullion. 

x 600 

63,904 

Gold, and silver specie. 

Tonka beans. 

86,460 
43,211 

5,811 
71,018 

9,272 
1,488 
35,882 
8,075 

Tobacco... 

Heron feathers (egret). 

Other articles... 7... 

Total. 


402,439 
30,777 
998 


393, 670 
45, 699 
924 

Cattle.number.. 

Other animals.do_ 

Total. 

6,496 
309 

9,613 

237 


434,214 


440,293 





Value of imports at Ciudad Bolivar during the years 1900-1901. 


Country. 

Value. 

1900. 

1901. 

Trinidad (principally transit from the United Kingdom, United States,etc.). 
Germany direct. . 

£259,166 
3,633 

£254,234 
9,736 
2,125 

United States direct. 

Total. 


262, 799 

266,095 



COMMERCE IN 1902. 

Imports from New York in 1902.—During the fiscal year 1901-2 
(July, 1901, to June, 1902, inclusive), the shipments from the city^ of New 
York to Venezuelan ports, according to data furnished by the consul- 
general of Venezuela at New York, consisted of 663,120 packages of 
merchandise, weighing 31,619,061 kilograms, valued at 11,992,209.95 
bolivars ($2,893,196.52), as compared with merchandise having a value 
of 19,096,176.15 bolivars ($3,685,619.95) shipped in 1900-1901. This 
commerce was carried on in 116 steamships and 6 sailing vessels, and 
the total number of invoices during the year referred to amounted to 
3,111. 



















































COMMERCE 1902. 


329 


The following 1 table is a detailed statement of the shipments of 
merchandise for the } T ear 1901-2: 


Articles. 

Packages. 

Weight. 

Value. 

Axes and agricultural implements. 

1 747 

Kilos. 
55,211.56 
867 564 00 

Bolivars. 

81,111.65 

099 887 8H 

Barbed wire. 

21,1G4 
328 
2,450 
5,889 
3,111 
5,700 
12,723 
1,273 
2,109 
5,748 
130,991 
158,522 
616 
1,928 
38,827 
34 

22,260 
114,292 
46,838 
452 

Beer and hops. 

22,451.90 
312 490 50 


Blankets. 

J-x , UvUt \ j\j 

1 01 ** QSQ on 

Butter. 

, 314,497. 50 
525,233. 00 
700 953 00 

i/Ui/ • VV 

499 7Q1 

Cement (roman). 

21,165.00 
21,935.00 
386 082 65 

Coal. 

Cordage. 

363,156. 60 
177,237.75 
218,264.00 
307,629.13 
1,325, 978. 71 
10,593,026. 00 
34, 852.00 
92, 670. 72 
1,527,580.45 
608. 60 
2, 015,559. 55 
4,179,901.00 
2,064, 505.00 
19,111.00 
11 109 00 

Cotton drill, white and colored. 

424,155.55 
417,455. 65 
581,443.90 
975,018.50 
2 268 681 95 

Crude cotton drill and canvas. 

Drugs and perfumes. 

Fine hardware, etc. 

Flour. 

Forage. 

6,280. 25 
60, 839.95 
879,797. 70 
1,659,835.00 
786,403.15 
562,826. 25 
1,965,469.85 
22,189.15 
14, 610.00 
91,405.00 
767,704.95 
127,301.50 
97 187.70 

Glass and lamp ware.. 

Groceries_. 

Gold coin. 

Hardware and carriages. 

Kerosene... 

Lard. 

Liquors. 

Live animals. 

26 

Lumber (undressed). 

11,874 
8, 873 
3,240 
1,477 

4 

729,864.00 
845,116.15 
240,806.35 
276,367.20 

Machinery and electrical supplies. 

Oils and paints..V. 

Printing supplies (paper, machinery, and type). 

Revolvers .. *...* ’.. 

76.50 

1 080 00 

Sailcloth and ducking. 

1,294 

142,985. 50 
32,843.58 
2,482,434.00 
1,081,702.00 
7,016.00 

23, 623. 00 
8,362. 50 
47,600.00 
673.00 

287,182.10 
64,346.75 
418,900.65 
142,016.10 
4, 010.00 

59,347.65 
26, 810. 60 
78, 904. 45 
6, 375.00 

Sewing machines and parts thereof. 

'661 

Small fruits.*.. 

49,699 
6,934 
140 

Soap and candles. 

Sugar. 

Tobacco: 

Chewing tobacco. 

1,077 

178 

Leaf tobacco. 

Tobacco fillings. 

630 

Manufactured tobacco. 

11 


Total. 

663,120 

31,649,060.75 

14,992, 209.95 
« §2,998,442 



a U. S. currency. 

The trade of Venezuela with the United States during the calendar 
year 1902, according to the United States official statistics, was repre¬ 
sented by the following figures: Exports from the United States to 
Venezuela—agricultural implements, $1,694; carriages, $13,620; cycles, 
$462; cotton cloths, $460,888; wearing apparel, $17,328; electric and 
scientific apparatus, $28,320; builders’ hardware, $22,682; leather, 
$27,406; rosin, tar, etc., $20,341; turpentine, $3,488; oils, $108,870; 
hams, $31,154; lard, $298,888; butter, $84,363; lumber, $1,946; fur¬ 
niture, $8,555. 

British official returns of shipments of products to Venezuela during 
1902 are limited to exports of cotton manufactures to the value of 
£182,288. 

The general agent of the Hamburg-American Company reported 
that importation through the port of La Guaira for the year 1902 was 
carried on by the steamers of the following nationalities, the figures 
given being for merchandise of various kinds brought into the Republic, 
exclusive of coal: German, 4,658 tons; English, 2,014 tons; American, 
10,971 tons; Spanish, 339 tons; French, 1,393 tons; Dutch, 1,269 tons; 
a total of 20,644 tons. 























































330 


VENEZUELA. 


Imports from and exports to the United States.—For the first eleven 
months of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902, the imports received 
from the United States by Venezuela aggregated $2,648,307, as com¬ 
pared with the corresponding period of 1901. Exports from Vene¬ 
zuela to the ports of the United States for the same eleven months’ 
period amounted to $5,913,225, as against $6,034,556 for the corre¬ 
sponding months of the preceding year. From these figures it appears 
that Venezuela exports nearly double the value of goods received from 
the United States. 

Imports from Barcelona in 1902.—The following table, furnished by 
the Department of Finance and Public Credit of Venezuela, shows the 
imports through the ports of the Republic from Barcelona (Spain) 
from July to December, 1902: 


Date. 

Steam¬ 

ers. 

Num¬ 
ber of 
pack¬ 
ages. 

Stock¬ 

inet. 

Cotton 

goods. 

Provi¬ 

sions. 

Wines 

and 

liquors. 

Oils. 

Cigar¬ 

ette 

paper. 

Writing 

mate¬ 

rials. 

Fishing 

lines. 

1902. 

July. 

August. 

September. 

October. 

November. 

December. 

Total. 

3 

1 

1 

2 

2 

1 

1,794 
1,431 
2,511 
3,759 
3,214 
1,484 

Kilos. 
1,641 
1,537 
3,193 
1,736 
2,633 
2,832 

Kilos. 

733 

719 

2,306 

1,238 

Kilos. 
6,063 
8,595 
13,376 
20,073 
19,497 
644 

Kilos. 
44, 572 
25, 521 
47,491 
46,819 
62, 532 
29,628 

Kilos. 

905 
8,506 
2,019 
80,545 
4,532 
2,320 

Kilos. 
5,318 
8,431 
7,461 
6,151 
4,281 
324 

Kilos. 

616 

541 

380 

Kilos. 

1,002 

276 
3,365 

10 

14,193 

13,572 

4,996 

68,248 

256,563 

98,827 

31,966 

1,537 

4,643 


Date. 

Ima¬ 

ges. 

Cork. 

Bird 

seed. 

Strings 

and 

musical 

instru¬ 

ments. 

Books 

and 

printed 

matter. 

Drugs. 

Sundry. 

Total 

Aveight. 

Value. 

1902. 

July. 

August. 

Kilos. 

293 

648 

80 

44 

134 

Kilos. 

2 

Kilos. 

802 

460 

1,613 

582 

Kilos. 

16 

14 

149 

13' 

34 

Kilos. 

1,150 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

20 

77 

33,739 
440 
883 
659 

Kilos. 

60,713 
55,133 
109, 329 
160, 926 
100,422 
36,407 

$16,830 
12,906 
17,148 
26,015 
21,138 
7,509 

September. 

October. 

November . 

December. 

26 

209 

139 

160 

192 

Total. 







1,199 

28 

3,457 

226 

1,498 

352 

35,818 

522,930 

101,566 


Imports from Teneriffe in 1902.—The following table, furnished by 
the Department of Finance and Public Credit of Venezuela, shows the 
imports through the ports of the Republic from Santa Cruz de Tene¬ 
riffe (Canary Islands) from July to December, 1902: 


Date. 

Vessels. 

Olive oil. 

Almonds, 
hazel¬ 
nuts, and 
peanuts. 

Provi- 

sions. 

Wines. 

Sundry. 

Value. 

.Tnlv. 

1902. 

1 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

410 

Kilos. 

4,480 

Kilos. 

1,765 

123 

«$348 

165 

299 

672 

September. 

1 

52 


75 

October. 

1 


12 

5,060 
6,520 

1,410 

No\ T ember__ 

1 


23 




. 



Total 


4 

52 

23 

422 

16,135 

3,298 

1,484 




a 5 bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 













































































































COMMERCE 1902. 


331 


CARACAS DISTRICT TRADE, 1902. 

The British Foreign Office publishes the report on the trade of Vene¬ 
zuela for 1902 by the British consular officers, of which the following 
is an abstract: 

The British acting consul at Caracas reports as follows (abstract): 

Coffee exports.—The tables of exports show that, although there was 
a slight increase in the quantity of coffee and cacao shipped at La 
Guaira, this in no way counterbalanced the decrease in the shipments 
from Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo. 

Cacao.—Cacao shows an increase of 2,330, 135, and 39 tons, respec¬ 
tively, in the three ports named, and, moreover, the price of the article 
was sustained at a favorable figure in the European markets; in France, 
81 to 88 francs (£3 6s. 6d. to <£3 9s. 8d.) was obtained for the ordinary 
class of cacao. The quality of the Rio Chico cacao has lately com¬ 
manded better prices owing to more careful methods of preparation 
for the market. 

Asphalt.—A new article of export during the last } r ear was asphalt. 
This comes from a series of mines (or lakes) situated on the shores of 
the Lake Maracaibo. The concession is being worked by an American 
company. 

Imports.— The figures of imports this } T ear show a great decline, and 
were this due to home production it would be a favorable sign, but 
the articles imported have always been those which Venezuela does 
not produce. 

LA GUAIRA TRADE, 1902. 

The British vice-consul at La Guaira reports as follows (abstract): 

Imports.—There has been a remarkable falling off in all articles 
imported, and especially is this to be noted in cement, timber, and 
hardware. Dry goods have decreased about one-third and provisions 
a little less than half. 

Exports.—In the export trade, however, some improvement is to be 
noted; 221 tons of coffee having been shipped in excess of the quantity 
sent abroad in 1901. In cacao the increase was much greater, the total 
showing 2,330 tons or 11,542 bags more than the previous year. The 
quantity of hides was also 102 tons more than in 1901. 


Imports from foreign countries during the years 1901-2. 


Articles. 

Quantity. 

1901. 

1902. 

AT avn Vm n rli SP ___-. 

Packages. 
137,512 

Metric tons. 
8,610 

Packages. 
94; 911 

Metric tons. 
5,688 


55,180 

2,250 

17,332 

687 


306,639 

17,146 

174,258 

10,171 

nila /'r.tVipr tlio n lrprnspnp.'l .... 

9,108 

538 

8,806 

536 


55,267 

1,940 

52,436 

1,859 


19,110 

1,696 

816 

79 

1,095 


20,261 

3,419 

6, 341 



16,674 


15,335 



129 

919 

149 


8,447 

562 

1,224 

117 































332 


VENEZUELA 


Exports to foreign countries during the years 1901-2. 


Articles. 

Quantity. 

1901. 

1902. 

Coffee in bags.... 

Packages. 
120,'217 
70,085 
80,058 
8,517 

Metric tons. 
7,290 
3,774 
782 
677 

Packages. 
126,848 
111,627 
91,639 
7,687 

Metric tons. 
7,514 
6,104 
884 
410 

Cacao in bags. 

Hides. 

Sundries. 



Coasting trade during the years 1901-2. 


Articles. 

1901. 

1902. 

Importation. 

Exportation. 

Importation. 

Exportation. 

Merchandise. 

Metric tons. 
14,055 
2,741 
248 

Metric tons. 

5,584 

Metric tons. 
14,054 
330 
73 

Metric tons. 
4,052 

Timber. 

Coal. 


9 




Foreign imports, showing countries from which goods were shipped during the years 1901-2. 


Country. 


Germany.. 

Spain.. 

United States.... 

France.. 

Netherlands_ 

United Kingdom 

Italy.. 

Belgium. 

Colombia. 

Denmark.. 

Cuba. 


Quantity. 

1901. 

1902. 

Packages. 

Metric tons. 

Packages. 

Metric tons. 

152,082 

7,666 

97,250 

4,340 

37,393 

1,539 

24,662 

972 

308,584 

24,613 

173,630 

12,260 

23, 705 

1,567 

10,324 

729 

34,646 

3,680 

21, 552 

1,272 

42,968 

13,077 

17, 398 

13,961 

12,692 

812 

7,737 

496 

3 

1 

1,745 

1,561 

12 

U 

8 

1 

153 

Si 

2,744 

124 



20 

1 


PUERTO CABELLO TRADE, 1902. 

The following is an abstract from the report of the United States 
consul at Puerto Cabello on the trade of said port for the year 1902: 

EXPORTS. 


Articles and country of destination. 


Quantities. 


Value, U. S. 
currency. 


Bluing (pounds): 

France. 

Bags (pounds): 
Holland. 

Coffee (pounds): 

France. 

Spain. 

United States 

Germany. 

Holland. 

Italy. 

Cuba. 

Total. 

Cacao (pounds): 

France. 

Spain. 

United States 
Germany. 


587 


$294.00 


14,300 


1 , 000.00 


9,899, 328 
1,534,149 
1,442,892 
1,309,523 
773,530 
211,274 
23, 400 


15,194,096 


1,006,359.00 


1,293,386 
171,282 
138,820 
124,788 
























































































333 


COMMERCE 1902. 


EXPORTS—Continued. 


Articles and country of destination. 

Quantities. 

Value, U. S. 
currency. 

Cacao (pounds)—Continued. 

England ... 

78,432 
2,390 
101 


Italy. 


Holland. 




Total. 

1,809,199 

$267,158.00 


Cattle (head): 

Cuba. 

49 722 


Holland. 

5,805 




Total. 

55,527 

1,641,264.70 


Copra (pounds): 

France. 

171,689 
25,682 
19, 269 


Germany. 


Holland. 




Total. 

216,640 

29,326 

3,808.00 

265.00 

Corn (pounds): 

United States. 


Cotton (pounds): 

France. 

19,025 
14,044 


England. 




Total. 

33,069 

2, 730.00 


Cocoanuts (number): 

United States. 

15,300 
1,300 


Holland. 




Total. 

16, 600 

43-5.00 


Copper, scrap (pounds): 

Italy. 

19,515 
11,679 
3,514 
3,384 


Germany... 


France. 


Spain. 




Total. 

38,092 

1,946.00 


Donkeys (head): 

Cuba. 

38 

1, 520.00 


Dividivi (pounds): 

TTnl 1 an d . . 

121,440 
69,864 


Italy. 




Total .-....... 

191,304 

2,400.00 


Fruits (pounds) r 

Holland . 

16,535 

165.37 


Hides, deer (pounds): 

Tin i tpd Stales... 

47,134 
253 


France ........._....._..........................._...__ 




Total ......._........ 

47,387 

11,437.11 


Hides, goat (pounds): 

TTnitpd St.a.t.P.s ..........._.......................... 

258,928 
227,416 
615 


Fra nee ................... 


Holland .-... 




Total ............................ 

486,959 

107,775.49 


Hides, oxen (pounds): 

TTnitpd Stn.t.ps ........ 

1,135,138 
21,976 


Holland .-.-.-. 


TTranpp ..... 

3,454 




Total . 

1,160,568 

176,100.17 


Horses (head): 

95 



5 





Tntal . 

100 

2,000.00 



Horns (pounds): 

9,156 



6,912 




























































































334 


VENEZUELA 


EXPORTS—Continued. 


Articles and country of destination. 

Quantities. 

Horns (pounds)—Continued. 

Spain. 

2,299 
2,050 

France. 

Total. 

20,417 

Machinery, old (packages): 

United States. 

22 

12,300 

1 

Mahogany (feet): 

United States.... 

Minerals (barrels): 

United States. 

Miscellaneous (pounds): 

Holland. 

65, 723 
21,568 
12, 820 
12,090 
1,410 

Italy. 

France. 

Germany. 

Spain. 

Total. 

113,611 

Product of sugar cane (pounds): 

Holland. 

62,247 

1 

Photographs (packages): 

United States. 

Quinine (pounds): 

France. 

15,700 
1,069 
43 

Germany. 

United States. 

Total..*. 

16,812 

Shells (boxes): 

United States. 

4 

Wood, timber (pounds): 

Germany. 

948,204 
29,670 
3,000 

France. 

Italy . 

Total. 

980,874 



Value, U. S. 
currency. 


81,202.38 

414.95 
961.54 
5.23 


3,200.12 

2, 390.00 
60.00 


1,280.05 
37.83 


6,886.00 


RECAPITULATION. 


Cuba .. 
France 


United States 


Spain.. 

Germany .. 

Holland .. 

Italy. 

England... 

Total 


heads.. 
pounds. 

.do... 

.do... 

boxes 
barrels... 

feet. 

number.. 
packages. 
..pounds. 

.do... 

... do... 
number, 
heads... 
.pounds. 
_do... 


49,855 
23,400 
11,678,892 
3,052,283 
4 
1 

12.300 

15.300 
23 

1,712,524 
2,439, 945 
1,095,736 
1,300 
5,810 
366, 767 
92,476 


1, 628,321.75 
861,933.06 


425,983.33 
118,871.00 
109,368.92 


66,657.93 
19, 921. 50 
12,036. 00 


3,243,096.49 


IMPORTS. 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Quantity. 

Agricultural implements: 

England. 

Pounds, 
152,981 
36,908 
7,568 
3,326 
598 

Germany. 

Holland. 

United States. 

France. 

Total. 

201,381 

Ammunition: Germany. 

10, 461 



Articles and countries of origin. 

Quantity. 

Advertisements: United States. 

Pounds. 

1,621 

Apples: United States. 

2,334 


Acid: 

Acetic— 

Germany. 

3,414 
374 

United States. 


Total. 

3, 788 










































































































COMMERCE 1902 


335 


IM PORTS—Con tinned. 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Quantity. 

Acid—Continued. 

Muriatic— 

Germany. 

rounds. 

257 

253 

United States. 

Total. 

510 

Sulphuric—United States 

5,205 
1,066 

Bran: United States. 

Brewing supplies: 

United States. 

486 

50 

England. 

Total. 

536 

Blacking: United States. 

400 

Bottles: 

United States. 

1,931 
2,625 
1,542 
930 
15 

Germany. 

Holland. 

England. 

Spain. 

Total. 

6,043 

Bluing: 

Germany. 

4,184 

765 

United States. 

Total. 

4,949 

Books: 

Germany... 

1,036 

233 

77 

United States. 

France. 

Total . 

1,346 

Bariev Henna,nv. 

4,536 

Beer: 

fiprmany.. 

201,255 

65,216 

200 

England. 

TTuitpd States.. 

Total. 

266,671 

Butter: 

United States. 

154,270 
105,017 
3,733 
583 

OprmRnv. 

Holland .. 

Ttalv _.............. 

Total . 

263,603 

Brown linen: 

Herm an v.. .... 

12,119 
10,441 

England. 

'Petal . 

22,560 

r*art« hand- United States. 

1,170 

1,392 

r i flrrinp“ps* United States. 

Canary seed: 

Hermanv . 

5,478 
811 
695 

France .. 

Sna.in . 

Tota 1 .. 

6,984 

Canned goods: 

Era.nep .. 

12,035 
10,467 
8,524 
2, 725 
1,161 
253 
52 

Hermanv . 

United States. 

T fa 1 y . 

Un stand . 

Snain . 

Holland . 

Total. 

35,217 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Quantity. 

Cinnamon bark: United States . 

Pounds. 

8,661 
5,629 

Creolene: Germany. 

Confectionery: 

France . 

9,721 
4,179 
3,823 
2,686 
1,695 
440 

England . 

Germany. 

United States . 

Spain . 

Italy . 

Total . 

22,544 

Cement: 

Germany. 

427,845 
395, 210 
154,864 
39,549 

England . 

United States . 

Holland. 

Total . 

1,017,468 

Corks: Germany. 

68 

Coal for private use: 

England. 

603,504 
19,373 

Germany. 

Total. 

622,877 

Cigarettes: United States. 

365 

Crackers: 

United States. 

59,621 
24,038 
1,676 
852 

116 

Germany. 

England. 

Spain . 

France .... 

Total . 

86,303 

Hnrnsta.reh: United States. 

28, 694 

Candles: 

TTnitpd States . 

13,051 
798 

Germany . 

Total . 

13,849 

riprpnls- United States. 

323,724 

Cordage: 

Sna.in . 

2, 519 
1,419 
1,075 
600 

United States ... 

Italy . 

Hprma.nv.. 

Total . 

5,613 

Copper plate: 

Hermanv.... 

838 

145 

Eneland . 

Total . 

983 

Pnm• United States___...... 

163,658 

Cheese: 

Holland , . _____ 

62,569 
5,835 
2,239 
1,906 
763 
398 
41 

rJprTYlRTlV _.............. 

n cp .. 

Ttalv -.- .. 


TTn ted States . 

F'.no’ifl/nd ..-. 

Total . 

73,751 

Demijohns: 

Hormanv __........ 

13,850 
292 

Ttalv .- . - - - 

Total. 

14,142 
































































































































































































336 


VENEZUELA 


IMPORTS—Continued. 


i 

Articles and countries of origin. 


Quantity. 


Articles and countries of origin. 


Quantity. 


Dry goods: 

* England. 

German}'. 

United States. 

Holland. 

France. 

Spain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Drugs and medicines: 

Holland. 

Germany. 

United States. 

England. 

France. 

Italy. 

Spain. 

Total.,. 

Disinfectant: Germany .... 

Electric-light materials: 

United States. 

England. 

Total. 

Earthenware: 

Germany. 

France. 

England. 

United States. 

Total. 

Epsom salts: 

Germany. 

United States. 

England. 

Total. 

Flour: 

United States. 

Germany. 

Total. 

Furniture: 

England. 

United States. 

Germany. 

Total. 

Fruits, dried: 

France. 

United States. 

Italy. 

Spain. 

Germany. 

England. 

Total. 

Fish, dried: 

United States. 

Germany. 

Italy . 

France. 

Holland. 

Total. 

Firecrackers, United States 

Glue, Germany. 

Guns, United States. 


Pounds. 
993,790 
335,358 
283,144 
148,062 
71,293 
33, 763 
9,888 


1,875,298 


196,384 
94, 558 
52,673 
30,861 
19,729 
145 
132 


394, 932 


11,459 


29,306 
22,323 


51, 629 


261,915 
3,179 
2,640 
301 


268,035 


Gum: 

Germany 
France... 
Italy. 


Pounds. 

1,326 

682 

587 


Total 


2,595 


Hardware: 

Germany .... 

England. 

United States 

France. 

Italy. 

Holland. 

Total. 


216,728 
92,954 
88,565 
16,888 
1,245 
134 


416,514 


Hams: 

United States. 

Germany. 

England. 

Total. 

Hats and materials: 

Germany.. 

England.. 

Italy. 

France.. 

United States. 

Total.. 

Hops, United States ... 

Ink, writing and printing: 

Germany. 

United States.. 

France. 


52,984 
958 
129 


53,871 


2,641 
3,583 
991 
490 
107 


11,592 

220 


3,898 
827 
266 


12,102 
5,583 1 
503 


18,188 


2, 733,514 
63 


2, 733,577 


19,081 


Total. 

Iron and zinc, galvanized: 

England. 

Germany. 

United States. 

Total. 

Leather: 

Germany. 

France.. 

United States. 


2,312 

Italy. 

1,823 


1,277 

Total. 

5,412 

Lumber, United States. 


Lampwicks: 

8,680 

United States. 

4,050 

France. 

4,049 

Germany. 

1,260 

Holland. 

1,012 


30 

Total. 


Lard, United States 


28,005 
1,152 
604 
255 
153 


30,169 


1,735 
2,153 
99 


Liquors: 

France. 

Germany. 

Holland. 

England. 

Spain. 

United States 

Total. 

Liquors, sweet: 

England. 

Spain. 


4,991 


13,496 
3,737 
1,999 


19,232 


7,435 
2,074 
2,043 
490 


12,042 


14, 918 


2, 270 
2,026 
1,220 
118 


5, 634 


270,210 


63,859 
18,299 
1,851 
1,317 
596 
41 


85,963 


9,345 
3,275 






















































































































































































COMMERCE 1902 


337 


IM PO RTS—Con tinued. 


Articles and countries of origin. 


Quantity. 


Liquors, sweet—Continued. 

France. 

Germany. 

Holland. 

United States. 

Italy. 


Pounds. 

2,126 
222 
176 
112 
79 


Total 


15,335 


Lavender water: 

Spain. 

France. 


506 

96 


Total 


602 


Miscellaneous: 
United States 

Germany. 

France. 

England. 

Italy. 

Spain. 


9,539 
9,222 
,687 
765 
472 
52 


Total 


21,237 


Matches, Germany. 

Meat, salted, United States 

Machinery: 

United States. 

Germany. 

Italy. 

England. 

France. 


28,007 
1,986 


18,684 
6,879 
2,868 
822 


77 


Total 


Monuments: 
Italy.... 
Germany 


29,330 


19,571 
1,320 


Total 


20,891 


Milk, condensed: 

Germany. 

United States 
England. 


574 

198 

52 


Total 


824 


Olives: 

France. 

Spain. 

United States. 

Italy. 

England. • 


16,587 
14,845 
6,922 
1,236 
85 


Total 


39,675 


Oatmeal: 

United States 
Germany .... 


2,267 
160 


Total 


2,427 


Orange-flower water, France 
Oil: 

Kerosene, United States. 


2,237 
2,056,225 


Sweet— 

Italy. 

Spain. 

France. 

United States 
Germany .... 


118,582 
20, 750 
17,854 
6,419 
1,307 


Total 


164,912 


Linseed— 

Germany. 

England. 

4a—04-22 


4,905 
2,023 


Articles and countries of origin. 


Oil—Continued. 

Linseed—Continued. 

Holland.. 

United States 

Total. 

Machinery— 

United States... 
Germany. 

Total. 

Oilcloth, United States . 

Onions: 

Germany. 

United States. 

Spain. 

Total. 

Oakum, United States .. 


Pickles: 

England. 

Holland . 

France.*.... 

Germany. 

Total. 

Paint: 

United States. 

Germany. 

Holland. 

England. 

France. 

Total. 

Paper: 

Germany. 

Spain. 

. Holland. 

France. 

Italy. 

United States. 

England. 

Total. 

Potatoes: 

United States. 

Germany. 

France. 

Total. 

Perfumery: 

France. 

Germany. 

United States. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Phonographs, United States 
Plaster paris, Spain. 

Playing cards: 

Germany. 

Spain. 

England. 

Total. 

Pasteboard books: 

Germany. 

France. 

Total. 


Quantity. 


Pounds. 


1,764 

730 


9,422 

33,921 

4,078 

37,999 

455 

7,495 
1,946 
1,067 

10,508 

939 

24,665 

5,830 

3,119 

67 

33,681 

10,403 
9,464 
1,555 
1,163 
517 

23,102 

263,095 
18, 908 
12,695 
9,657 
7,459 
3,957 
2,503 

318,274 

35,382 
27,277 
1,320 

63,979 

8,790 
6,064 
5,515 
149 

20,518 

147 

393 

466 

231 

231 

928 

424 

374 

798 






































































































































































































338 


VENEZUELA 


IMPORTS—Continued. 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Quantity. 

Photograph supplies, United States... 

Rice: 

Germany". 

Pounds. 

268 

2,010, 403 
10,042 
9,917 
2,138 

United States. 

Holland. 

Italy . 

Total. 

2,032,500 

Rope, United States. 

116,038 
514,797 

Rosin, United States. 

Railway supplies: 

England. 

120,771 
629 

United States. 

Total. 

121,400 

Seeds: 

United States. 

9,321 

4,147 

501 

497 

193 

Germany. 

Italy. 

Spain. 

France. 


Articles and countries of origin. 


Quantity. 


Shoe materials—Continued. 

Germany. 

England. 


Pounds. 

429 

57 


Total 


1,499 


Sago, Germany. 

Stearine and paraffin: 

Holland. 

Germany. 

United States_ 

Total.. 


8,324 


142,117 
15,386 
1,003 


158,506 


Spirits of turpentine, United States... 


1.678 


Soda, caustic: 

England. 

United States 
Germany .... 


111,781 
27,160 
305 


Total 


139,246 


Total.T.... 

Sirups: 

Spain. 

France. 

Total. 

Strings, musical instruments: 

Spain. 

Germany. 

France. 

Total. 

Statuary, Spain. 

Spices: 

German y. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Sugar: 

United States. 

Germany. 

Total. 

Sardines: 

Spain. 

Germany. 

France. 

Italy. 

Total. 


14,659 


602 

127 


729 


435 ! 
28 
13 ; 


476 


853 


28,110 
16,400 * 
15, 729 
14,090 
8,845 


83,174 


228 

118 


346 


42,391 i 
25,671 
11,820 
506 


80,388 


Seales, United States 

Tobacco: 

United States ... 

Spain. 

Germany. 

Total. 


Tar: 

Germany. 

United States. 

Total. 

Twine: 

United States. 

Germany. 

Italy. 

Spain. 

England. 

France. 

Total. 

Timber, pine, United States .. 

Tallow, United States. 

Type, printers’, United States 

Toys: • 

United States. 

France. 

Germany. 

Total. 


Tea: 

Germany 

England 


Stationery: 

United States .., 

Germany. 

France. 

Total. 

Sausage: 

Germany. 

Italy .. .*.. 

United States ... 
France. 

Total. 


576 

167 

57 


800 


Total. 

Thread: 

England. 

United States 
Germany .... 
France... 


1,101 

980 

203 

121 


2, 405 


Total... 

Vinegar: 
France... 
Germany" 
Spain 


2,815 


25,249 
1,452 
52 


26, 753 


7,396 
5,163 


12,559 


20,990 
11,888 
5,712 
875 
613 
607 


40,705 


18,315 

803 

33 


125 

96 

44 


265 


55 

28 


83 


2,120 
2,035 
638 
576 


5,369 


3,227 
1,027 
380 


Shoe materials: 
France. 


1,013 


Total 


4,634 








































































































































































































339 


COMMERCE 1902. 


IM PORTS—Continued. 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Quantity. 

Vegetables: 

Spain. 

Pounds. 

1,320 

415 

219 

118 

United States. 

France. 

Germany. 

Total. 

2,072 

Vermicelli, United States. 

3,654 

Water, mineral: 

Germany. 

33,235 
4,478 
3,388 
308 
50 

France. 

Italy . 

Spain. 

England. 

Total. 

41,459 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Quantity. 

Wire, barbed, United States. 

Pounds. 
190,528 


Wines: 

Spain. 

553,555 
163,059 
81, 808 
6,542 
3,226 
715 

France. 

Italy . 

Germany. 

England. 

Holland. 


Total. 

808,905 


Yarn: 

Germany. 

334 

England. 

321 


Total. 

655 


Total imports , all countries. 


Country. 

Quantity. 

Value, U. S. 
currency. 

England. 

Pounds. 

2,680,093 
7,678, 652 
4,406,869 
721,658 
636, 934 
479,155 
279,314 

$278,626.43 
277,470.22 
258,084. 95 
76,291.48 
69,995.87 
62,446.10 
20,067.21 

United States. 

Germany. 

Spain. 

Holland. 

France. 

Italy. 

Total . 

16,882,675 

1,042,982. 26 



The imports for 1902 show that England leads in trade in the consu¬ 
lar district of Puerto Cabello. The United States, Germany, Spain, 
Holland, France, and Italy follow; but when compared with 1901 
there is a decrease in the total imports of $1,328,467.26. 

The British vice-consul reports as follows (abstract): 

Imports amounted to— 


From— 

Value. 

Currency. 

Sterling. 

TTrnforl TTi rt crrl run . 

Bolivars. 

338,719.36 
767, 713.89 
341,596.21 
216,451.02 
120,877.94 
14,829.84 
81,735.08 

£ s. d. 

13,414 12 0 
30,404 10 2 
13,528 11 0 
8,572 4 8 
4,787 5 0 
587 6 8 
3,237 1 0 







Total -.-.. 

1,881,923.34 

74,531 10 6 



























































































340 


VENEZUELA. 


Against— 


From— 

Value. 

1901. 

Average, five 
years. 

United Kingdom. 

£ s. d. 

64,320 3 5 

51,506 0 1 

63,476 11 3 

34,629 1 0 

32,533 5 2 

4,381 7 11 

3,432 3 1 

607 8 9 

£ s. d. 

112,883 15 0 
93,110 14 11 
76,386 4 2 
48,156 10 0 
24,267 11 1 
7,040 18 6 
9,622 3 9 
1,809 11 4 

United States. 

Germany. 

France. 

Netherlands. 

Italy. 

Spain. 

Other countries. 

Total. 

254,886 0 8 

373,277 8 9 


Cattle.—Only 1,968 head of cattle were shipped to Cuba and the 
other islands, against 66,049 head in 1901 and 18,774 head in 1900. 

The number of vessels from foreign ports entered and cleared during 
the year 1901 was also considerably less, viz: 


Nationality. 

Number of vessels. 

Steam. 

Sailing. 

French. 

61 


German. 

35 


British. 

15 


American. 

25 


Dutch. 

45 


Italian. 

7 


Spanish. 

12 


Russian. 


1 

Norwegian. 

2 

3 

' Total. 

202 

4 





MARACAIBO TRADE, 1902. 

The United States consul at Maracaibo reports on the trade of said 
port for 1902, of which the following is an abstract: 

Coffee.—Coffee is the principal staple export. The coffee business 
increased in importance this last } T ear, amounting in exportation to 
55,700 tons in 1901, 45,500 in 1900, and 44,000 in 1899. The abolish¬ 
ing of the export duties since May 1 has also favored shipments. The 
coffee produced in these regions can be sold more profitably in the 
United States than elsewhere. The Tachira coffee, once confused with 
that of Cucuta, is to-day in demand. The washed qualities of Merida 
coffee, dark green, are in request in all the markets, but especially in 
London and Hamburg. Some kinds of Bocono are profitable. The 
Trujillo coffee is the cheapest, due to the irregularity in the size of 
the grain and the difference in color. 

Coffee has sold during the year 1901, according to its origin and its 
qualit} 7 , as follows: 

Cents. 

61 to 91 
6 to 9 
61 to 91 


January . 
February 
March... 























































Handbook of Venezuela. 



NEW MARINA STREET, MARACAIBO. 
(Courtesy of the Zuliii Government.) 








































COMMERCE 1902. 


341 


April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August_ 

September 
October .. 
November 
December 


Cents. 

6 to 9 
6f to 9 


6 to 8f 

7 to 101 
71 to 11 
71 to 101 


The very good qualities have obtained better prices. 

The coffee grower suffers from lack of transportation facilities. 
Only in the quality of the product have we certain advantages,over 
other producing countries. 

Cacao. —The exportation of this article has been as follows: 


Year. 

Bags. 

Tons. 

Year. 

Bags. 

Tons. 

1898 . 

3,002 

2,630 

140 

1900. 

3,960 
2,639 

188 

1899 . 

123 

1901. 

124 




Most of the exports have come from Merida State, as this qualit} r is 
much demanded b} r consumers on account of the regular size of the 
bean and its superior quality. 

The resolution of the National Government abolishing the export 
duties has been of great help to the planter. 

The great Guayaquil (Ecuador) crop in the }^ear 1901-2 lowered 
prices, and it is probable that there will be no profit during this year 
in the crop of this State and of Merida. 

Woods. —In the last two years the shipments of lapatera wood have 
increased to such an extent that 6,000 tons were sent abroad during 
that period. This quantity being in excess of the consumption of 
foreign markets, depression followed, so that, instead of $11 or $12, 
cutters can now hardly obtain $8 or $9. 

Ebony. —This wood does not have the consistency, fineness, or color 
of that which comes from Africa. It has a limited consumption in 
Europe, almost none in the United States. The quantity exported 
this year is estimated at 1,000 tons. The cutters of this wood eight or 
ten years ago obtained $10 to $12 per ton for small lots, but this price 
has declined year by year until now the highest value obtainable is $7 
per ton. 

Vera. —Owing to the late war in Cuba, guayacan became scarce, 
and there was a demand for this wood, under the name of “ bastard 
guayacan. ” Sales were made in England for as much as £5 ($24) per 
ton. But as soon as affairs resumed their normal condition in the 
island, and a supply of the genuine wood came into the market, vera 
fell so low that it was quoted as unsalable abroad. 





































342 


VENEZUELA. 


Cedar.—This wood is so far removed from the shipping points that 
not only is it difficult to obtain, but the cost is so high that the exploi¬ 
tation has ceased, and its consumption is limited to La Guaira and 
Maracaibo. When 18 inches wide and 12 thick, it brings $2.50 to $3 
per yard. Besides those mentioned no other woods are exported. 

Dividivi.—This grows wild in the savannas. The quantity and 
qualit}^ of the crop depend on the rain. Last year about 8,000,000 
pounds were exported, including 600,000 pounds from Goagira. The 
maximum price obtained for the crop was 90 cents per hundred¬ 
weight, which, together with the expenses of warehousing, shipping, 
etc., brought the maximum cost to $1.10 for the article placed on board 
for exportation. 

Freights.—Owing to the limited number of direct sailing vessels for 
Europe, the greater part of the wood is exported in schooners to 
Curasao and thence by steamships to Europe, the freight being as 
follows: From Maracaibo to Curasao, $3.75 to $4.25 a ton; from Cura¬ 
sao to Liverpool, 21 shillings ($5.10); from Curasao to Havre, Ham¬ 
burg, Amsterdam, etc., 24 to 25 shillings ($5.83 to $6.08) per ton of 
2,240 pounds. Small quantities for New York are shipped via Cura¬ 
sao, in steamers and sailing vessels, at a cost of $3. 

India rubber.—Various attempts have been made to develop this 
industry, but none has given the results expected. The climate and 
soil are favorable to the cultivation of the plant, which is found wild 
in many forests of the State. By planting fruit trees with it a remu¬ 
nerative return could be obtained within a few years. 

The average quality exported in the year 1901 sold as follows: In 
Germany, 3 marks ($0.71) a half kilo (1.1 lbs.); in the United States, 
60 cents a pound. A French specialist classified samples sent him as 
u first-class gum badly prepared.” 

Cattle.—Venezuela has extensive lands on the margins of her rivers 
(which retain their waters during all seasons of the year), of abundant 
pasturage, and of facilities for obtaining excellent cattle for food. 
Some ranches have been started along the rivers Escalante, Zulia, 
Motatan, and Limon, and have given good results. The same may be 
said in the districts of Bolivar, Miranda, and Perija, where there also 
exist very good lands for the establishment of large farms. 

The market takes monthly from 750 to 800 head of cattle, and the 
price to-day is the average which has been maintained during the past 
two years, namely, $2 per arroba (25 pounds) for fat meat and $1.25 
for lean. 

Salt.—Salt is imported from Coche, packed in sacks of 125 pounds 
net, and brought in schooners. It is then distributed through the 
State of Tachira and a part of the department of Santander, in the 
Republic of Colombia. The salt from the mines of Coche is white 
and firm. 


COMMERCE 1902. 


343 


This year 1,158 tons have been imported from Coche. 

The salt which is consumed in this State and in Trujillo and Merida 
is obtained from the districts known as 44 La Hoyada,” 44 Salina Rica, 1 ’ 
and 44 El Cano.” For the most part it is yellowish in color. White 
salt is also obtained from the island of San Carlos, but it is inferior to 


that of Ceiba. 

The salt is generally packed in gunny sacks and then in packages 
of 105 pounds, gross weight. 

The income obtained by the nation from the salt mines of this 
State is very considerable. During the year 1901, 3,363 tons were 
exported, which paid duty amounting almost to $190,000. In the 
quantity exported must be included 598 tons sent to the government 
of Tachira b}^ order of the nation. The remainder was for the greater 
part destined for the State of Trujillo. 

The British vice-consul at Maracaibo reports as follows (abstract): 


Exports of coffee at Maracaibo during the years 1902-1898. 


Year. 

Quantity. 

1902. 

Bags. 
294,880 
422,386 
345,471 
344,328 
441,579 

Tons. 

17,693 
25,626 
20,050 
20,268 
26,494 

1901. 

1900 . 

1899 . 

1898. 



The average price of coffee per 100 pounds f. o. b. Maracaibo may 
be calculated at £1 6s., the same as in 1901 and 1900, against <£1 5s. 
for 1899, £1 7s. for 1898, and £2 4s. for 1897. During the whole 
year coffee was free of export duty. 

The value of coffee exported in 1902 amounted to £443,460, against 
£591,112 in 1901, £540,707 in 1900, £543,243 in 1899, and £772,584 
in 1898. 

Hides.—The value of hides exported amounted in 1902 to £21,860, 
against £22,800 in 1901. 

Cacao. —The value of cacao exported amounted only to about £8,600 
in 1902. 

Asphalt.—During the last six months of 1902 there were exported 
about 3,355 tons of asphalt. The United States and Venezuelan Com¬ 
pany is working the mines, a railroad from the mines to the shore of 
the lake has been built by them, and they hope to ship very soon about 
2,000 tons monthly. They ship crude and also refined asphaltum. 













344 


VENEZUELA 


General produce from Maracaibo during the year 1902 . 


Month. 


January... 
February . 
March .... 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August.... 
September 
October... 
November 
December. 

Total 
Total, 1901 


Coffee. 

Cacao. 

Quina 

bark. 

Kilos. 
939,183 
1,517,793 
2,060,045 
1,552,453 
1,849,197 
971,759 

Kilos. 

16,981 
37,640 
27,668 
7,902 
33,892 
26,785 
16,791 
9,681 

Kilos. 




1,020 

87i; 535 
1,921,540 
1,353,679 
1,851,443 
1,093,531 
1,710,674 

1,336 





1,439 

16, 222 

'675 


Hides. 

Goat¬ 

skins. 

Deer¬ 

skins. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

35,802 

11,949 

157 

43,385 

9,493 

254 

46,616 

13, 368 

681 

30,060 

9,902 

579 

32,411 

8, 590 

371 

17,481 

12,936 

418 

26,032 

8,803 

378 

47, 261 

13,463 

591 

41, 673 

8,588 

239 

41,830 

18,764 

290 

33, 315 

13,027 

478 

46,424 

17,954 

294 


17,092,882 193,562 

25,626,629 154,061 


4,470 
6,252 


442,290 146, 837 

456,258 138,860 


4,730 
7,820 


January... 
February . 
March .... 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August.... 
September 
October... 
November 
December. 

Total 
Total, 1901 


Month. 


Copaiba. 


Fustic. 


Kilos. 


Kilos. 


Divi-divi. 


Brown Fish 
sugar. sounds. 


Kilos. 


Kilos. 


Kilos. 


Asphal- 

tum. 


Kilos. 


1,775 
2,471 
3,174 
1,310 
5,010 
936 
4,123 
2,392 
3,996 
5,036 
5,278 
3, 634 


723,141 
1,495,170 
1,569, 311 
1,091,429 
609,148 
482, 986 
576,050 
856, 365 
1,066, 647 
395, 957 
196,020 
167,498 


446,500 
486,503 


11,500 
115,000 
266,309 
29,080 


239,386 
233,400 


40,246 
50,144 
26, 956 
53,472 
44, 330 
20,118 
36,350 
57, 775 
37, 660 
86, 580 
44,930 
73,340 


2,273 
5,636 
17,557 
3,969 
1,812 
316 
371 
2,952 
5,124 
2,355 
1,047 
1,757 


124,898 
1,105,124 


573,480 
900,678 
650,566 


39.135 
40,807 


9,229, 722 
6,272 684 


1,827,678 571,901 

3,368,183 283,683 


45,169 
35,970 


3,354,746 


CIUDAD BOLIVAR TRADE, 1902. 

Exports of Ciudad Bolivar, 1901-2.—The following is a summary 
of the exports of Ciudad Bolivar in 1901 and 1902, though much of 
the trade of the Delta does not pass through Ciudad Bolivar, being 
carried on direct with Trinidad and British Guiana: 



1901. 

1902. 


£70,000 
162,901 
1,186,462 
2,229 
16,310 
7,571 
127,709 
37,910 
76,912 
9,614 
10,038 

£10 700 

Rubber. 

Balata gum. 

Plumes and feathers. 

Copaiba balsam. 

Tonka beans. 

Coffee. 

Cacao . 

Tobacco. 

Horns and skins. 

Live animals. 




41,375 
914,276 
2,476 
5,279 
186, 996 
2,806 
46,141 
8, 740 
4,717 
4,582 


Orinoco trade.—The Board of Trade Journal for July 30, 1903, pub¬ 
lishes the following information relative to trade between Trinidad 
and the Orinoco, as furnished to the Commercial Intelligence Branch 
of the Board of Trade b} r the collector of customs at Port of Spain, 
Trinidad. 























































































































COMMEKCE 1903. 


345 


Of the many channels through which the Orinoco reaches the sea 
only two are of value for purposes of navigation—the Gran Boca, to 
the extreme south, and the Macareo. The former is alone accessible 
to ocean-going vessels, and the depth over the bar is from 4 to 5 
meters. The depth of the river itself varies with the season, and in 
the dry season, from November to April, the channel below Ciudad 
Bolivar has in places less than 3 meters of water. 

Only a few ocean-going vessels enter the Orinoco. A couple of 
small sailing vessels reach Ciudad Bolivar every year from Hamburg 
with general cargoes, and a couple with provisions from New York, 
and a small steamer trades once a month with Cayenne, the chief 
business being the exportation of horned cattle. 

The great bulk of the Orinoco trade is carried on through Trinidad, 
which is opposite to and only a few miles from the Delta. There 
cargo is tranferred to or from river steamers having a draft of afiout 
3 meters. These are able, without leaving smooth water, to enter the 
Macareo, and by that channel to reach Ciudad Bolivar, which is about 
482 kilometers from Port of Spain, contains 10,000 inhabitants, and is 
the only town of consequence on the Orinoco. Up to about two years 
ago the navigation of the Macareo was the subject of an exclusive 
concession. The last holders, an English (now an American) company, 
have a fleet of eight stern-wheel steamers, two of which connect Trini¬ 
dad with Ciudad Bolivar, while the others share the trade of the upper 
river and its chief branches with a small steamer or two owned by 
Ciudad Bolivar merchants and with innumerable lanchas , bungos , 
balandras , and piraguas, craft ranging from 5 to 30 tons and carrying 
from six to eight men. The same company has a small steamer plying 
above the Maipure Rapids as far as San Carlos, on the Rio Negro, 
where that great branch of the Amazon is‘joined to the Orinoco by 
the Casiquiare. Orinoco trade is for the most part centered in Ciudad 
Bolivar, formerly known as Angostura. The merchants of that town, 
who are mainly German and Corsican, and include only one British 
and one American firm, have connections at every point of conse¬ 
quence on the river and its tributaries. 


COMMERCE IN 1903. 

The aggregate value of foreign articles imported through the 
custom-houses of Venezuela during the fiscal year 1902-3 from New 
York, Liverpool, Hamburg, Bordeaux, Habana, and Santander, 
according to official data furnished by the Department of Finance and 
Public Credit of Venezuela, amounted to $6,115,813, as shown by the 
following six tables and summary: 

Imports from New York, 1903.—The Department of Finance and 
Public Credit of Venezuela furnished the following table showing the 


346 


VENEZUELA 


imports through the ports of Venezuela from the port of New York 
during the liscal year 1902-3: 


Articles. 

Packages. 

Kilograms. 

Value. 

Oils and paints. 

4,278 
7,251 
22 

338,669. 850 
365, 845. 500 
3, 724 

8,833 

940 

«$34, 357 
22, 033 
724 

Barbed wire. 

Live animals. 

Sugar. 

101 

848 

Cartriches. 

14 

498 

Coal. 

3,165 

353 

1,301,437 

6,080 

785 

Cement (Roman) . 

62; 731 

4,130. 900 
434,957.500 

Beer and hops. 

188 

1,372 
88,651 

130,106 
124,925 
137,039 
93,265 
1,561 
19,384 
371 

Cordage... 

14,330 

2,048 
3,877 
6,712 
10,862 

Cotton drill: 

Colored and white. 

286,254.250 
336,282.500 

Rough. 

Drugs and perfumes. 

320,876. 700 
916, 938. 300 
35, 080 

318, 400 

425 

Hardware. 

Forage . 

'542 

Cereals. 

5,563 

15 

Fulminants.. 

Axes and agricultural instruments. 

1,011 

29,152.100 
10,605,585.500 
229,528.850 
1,669,464 

4,183,112 
- 22,177 
151,879.250 
231, 688 
1,791,979.500 
354,373.900 
21,783 

495,166. 650 
4,566 

670. 200 

10,467 
492, 958 
16,040 
49,292 

Flouifc... 

150;099 
1,512 
10,837 
116,172 

Printing and supplies. 

Soap and candles. 

Kerosene. 

122; 420 
4,919 

Liquors. 

'570 

Sailcloth and canvas. 

1,353 

59; 964 
4,295 
339,674 
103,631 
7,716 

Lumber, rough. 

L 902 
33,894 

6, 769 

Lard. 

Butter. 

Sewing machines and supplies. 

401 

Electric machinery and supplies. 

6,627 

100 

92; 285 
367 

Shot. . 

Gold coin. 

39 

370,650 
23,681 
320,000 
144,212 
1,030 

Cigarette fillings. 

879 

71,170 

Silver coin. 

158 

2i; 518 

439,330.070 
68 

Millinery. 

7,154 

1 

Revolvers. 

Salts of niter. 

85 

6,917 

'680 

Chewing tobacco. 

124 

R625 

4,950 

159 

861 

Leaf tobacco. 

99 

3,212 

717 

Manufactured tobacco. 

5 

Glassware.. 

1,207 
31,587 
5,839 

52,977.500 
1,095,605 

467, 638 

12,585 
149,205 
265,344 

Provisions. 

Lawn prints. 


Total. 

437, 745 

26,688,609. 020 

3,234,424 



a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


Imports from Liverpool in 1903.—The following table, furnished by 
the Department of Finance and Public Credit of Venezuela, shows the 
imports through the ports of the Republic from the port of Liverpool, 
England, during the fiscal year 1902-3: 


Month. 


1902. 

July. 

August.. 

September. 

October . 

November. 

December. 


1903. 

February. 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June.. 


Total 


Vessels. 

Number 
of pack¬ 
ages. 

Cotton 

goods. 

Hard¬ 

ware. 

Provi¬ 

sions. 

Liquors. 

Glass¬ 

ware. 

2 

2,973 

Kilos. 

42, 741 

Kilos. 

90,692 

Kilos. 

10,969 

Kilos. 

6,069 

Kilos. 

5 

1,846 

112, 591 

40,256 

3,123 

4,492 


4 

1,704 

136,618 

18,431 

1,573 

3,033 


4 

4,174 

186,203 

47,031 

7,272 

15,170 


4 

11.859 

278,441 

48,953 

1,779 

3,591 


3 

1,528 

171,793 

15,387 

1,762 

5,5/0 


4 

3,209 

204,070 

42,911 

8,587 

12,866 

407 

6 

5,857 

193,262 

92, 389 

7,356 

3,499 


6 

3, 569 

383,241 

52,498 
73,973 

3,432 
15, 796 

3, 708 


6 

5,359 

227,334 

i; 427 


6 

8,191 

426,317 

119,560 

12,848 

18,697 


50 

50,269 

2,362,611 

642,081 

74,497 

78,128 

407 




































































































COMMERCE 1903 


347 


July. 

August.... 
September 
October... 
November 
December. 


February 
March .. 

April_ 

May. 

June .... 


Total 


Month. 


1902. 


1903. 


Oils. 


Kilos. 

676 


2,621 
1,580 
427 
210 


827 

1,799 


246 

ft— 

8,386 


Soda. 

Coal. 

Sundry. 

Total 

weight. 

Value. 

Kilos. 

20, 430 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

7,973 

Kilos. 

179,550 

m 

J— * 

00 

h- 4 

20,241 


8,389 

189,092 

65,551 

2,618 


8,840 

173,734 

72, 599 

57,674 
260 

103,530 

37,919 

456,379 

119,556 

56,616 

390,067 

128,816 

31,153 


7,784 

233,665 

104,626 

13,367 


1,535 

283,743 

134,300 

52,211 


45, 491 

395,035 

124,895 

22,750 


13,608 

481,036 

235,440 

29,829 


19,724 

368,083 

163,120 

39,497 


81,059 

698,224 

269,500 

290,030 

103,530 

288,938 

3,848,608 

1,499,814 


« Five bolivars taken as equivalent of the United States dollar. 


Imports from Hamburg in 1903.—The following table, furnished by 
the Department of Finance and Public Credit of Venezuela, shows the 
imports through the ports of the Republic from Hamburg, Germany, 
during the fiscal year 1902-3: 


Month. 

Vessels. 

Number 
of pack¬ 
ages. 

Cotton 

goods. 

Provi¬ 

sions. 

Hard¬ 
ware and 
milli¬ 
nery. 

Ma¬ 

chines. 

1902. 



Kilos. 

Kilos.- 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

July. 

4 

17,231 

228 

4,934 

2,164 

24 

August . 

4 

8,476 

118 

3,719 

163 


September. 

4 

10,084 

475 

5,006 

279 

13 

October. 

3 

9,328 

269 

4,061 

255 

4 

November. 

5 

16,104 

296 

6, 629 

255 

15 

December. 

4 

27,084 

330 

11,224 

2,276 

2 

1903. 








2 

319 

18 

201 



February . 

4 

32,310 

832 

12,954 

794 

39 

March. 

4 

7,444 

121 

1,789 

341 

14 

April. 

3 

14,925 

246 

6,195 

406 

36 

May. 

5 

26,956 

735 

10,372 

2,192 

43 

June. 

6 

25,369 

680 

10,395 

1,672 

12 

Total. 

48 

199,630 

4,348 

77,479 

10,797 

202 


Month. 

Liquors. 

Oils. 

Sundry. 

Total 

weight. 

Value. 

Tnl\r 

1902. 

Kilos. 

428 

Kilos. 

12 

Kilos. 

9,441 

Kilos. 

784,530 
369,064 

8121,437 

A llflist. ........ 

869 

207 

3,400 

59,040 

ftputcmhcr .. .. 

789 

29 

7,673 

546,724 

97,565 

fletnhpr ... 

1,003 

60 

3,676 

3.50,908 

71,290 


1,885 

199 

6,825 

689,881 

100,940 

rionmn her .. 

2,031 

225 

10,996 

609,625 

132,168 

Tqti imrv 

1903. 

10 

2 

88 

13,918 

1,541 

TTphriinrv . 

3,730 

28 

13, 933 

1,069, 780 

213,639 

Mflreh . 

340 

175 

4,664 

373,543 

59,909 

April . 

819 

83 

7,140 

544,135 

96,942 
130,567 

Mfl v .. 

3,167 

117 

10,330 

946, 900 

June. 

2,230 

28 

10,352 

953,628 

154,438 

Tntai .. 

17,301 

1,165 

88,518 

7,252,636 

1,277,476 







Imports from Bordeaux in 1903.—The following table, furnished by 
the Department of Finance and Public Credit of Venezuela, shows the 

























































































































348 


VENEZUELA 


imports through the ports of the Republic from Bordeaux. France, 
during the fiscal year 1902-3: 


Month. 

Vessels. 

Number 
of pack¬ 
ages. 

Cotton 

goods. 

Provi¬ 

sions. 

Hard¬ 
ware and 
milli¬ 
nery'. 

Ma¬ 

chines. 

1902. 



Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

July. 

9 

156 


22 



August. 

2 

218 


67 



September. 

2 

837 

4 

318 

2 

1 

October. 

2 

036 

5 

269 

4 


November. 

2 

283 

1 

23 

3 


December. 

2 

540 

• 1 

269 

3 


1903. 







February . 

2 

899 


556 



March. 

2 


7 

243 



April. 

2 

376 


108 



May. 

2 

403 

i 

90 


6 

June. 

2 

563 


133 


1 








Total. 

22 

5,697 

19 

2,098 

12 

8 


Month. 

Liquors. 

Oils. 

Sundry'. 

Total 

weight. 

Value. 

1902. 

July. 

Kilos. 

126 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

8 

Kilos. 

26,102 

« $4,478 
4,294 

August. 

114 

15 

22 

16,226 

September. 

290 

94 

128 

45,891 

9,781 

October. . 

306 

39 

13 

43,743 

12,295 

November. 

154 

71 

31 

29,138 

6,224 

December. 

1903. 

215 

36 

16 

31,338 

9, 134 

February. 

279 

39 

25 

39, 749 

12,945 

March. 

399 

108 

29 

56,457 

12; 204 

April. 

192 

25 

51 

30, 914 

7,534 

M*ay. 

208 

51 

47 

31,220 

9,162 

June. 

293 

70 

66 

55, 602 

12,133 

Total. 

2,576 

548 

436 

409, 380 

100,595 


Imports from Havana in 1903.—The following table, furnished by 
the Department of Finance and Public Credit of Venezuela, shows the 
imports through the ports of the Republic from Habana, Cuba, during 
the fiscal year 1902-3: 


Month. 

Vessels. 

Number of 
packages. 

Cigars and 
cigarettes. 

Cigarette 

fillings. 

Total 

weight. 

Value. 

1902. 



Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 


July. 

1 






August. 

1 

3 

1 

2 

96 

0 $418 

September. 

1 






October. 

1 

1 


1 

• 6ft 

70 

November. 

1 

2 

1 

1 

123 

228 

December. 

1 

3 


3 

98 

124 

1903. ' 





January. 

1 






February . 

1 






March. 

2 

1 

1 


60 

O A 

April. 

1 

5 

1 

4 

830 

863 

Mav. 

2 






June. 

2 

7 

2 

5 

169 

353 

Total. 

15 

22 

6 

16 

1,144 

2,080 


« U. S. currency. 


Imports from Santander in 1903—The following table, furnished bv 
the Department of Finance and Public Credit of Venezuela, shows the 

































































































































COMMERCE 1903. 3 49 

imports through the ports of the Republic from Santander (Spain) 
during the fiscal year 1902-3: 


Month. 

Vessels. 

Number 
of pack¬ 
ages. 

Sausages 
and par- 
tages. 

Mustard 
in jars. 

Pickles. 

Red 

wine. 

White 

wine. 

July. 

1902. 

1 


Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

August. 

] 

8 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

September. 

1 





October... 

1 







November. 

1 







December. 

1 







February. 

1903. 

1 







March. 

1 







April. 

1 

100 






May. 

1 

125 






.Tune____ 

1 

121 




20 









Total 


11 

354 

1 

1 

2 

21 

2 







Month. 

Capsules 
for bot¬ 
tles. 

Sardines 
in toma¬ 
toes. 

Sardines 
in oil. 

Salted 

sardines. 

Fish. 

Total 

weight. 

Value. 

.Tnlv.. 

1902. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 


August. 

1 





941 

$60 

September. 






October. 








November. 








Dooomber_ 








Fpbmarv 

1903. 








M tiro b 








April 


100 




4,400 

735 

Mav . 



125 


2 ,625 
• 7,554 

133 

.Tuno_ _ 



100 

1 

496 








Total 


1 

100 

100 

125 

1 

15,520 

1,424 







Summary.— The foregoing six tables are recapitulated hereunder and 
show that the value of the imports from New York amount to half of 
the aggregate imports from the six ports taken into consideration: 


Imports, 1903. 


Port. 

Packages. 

Weight. 

Value. 

Npw Ynrlr .-... 

437,745 
50,269 
199,630 
5,697 
22 
354 

Kilos. 

26,688, 609 
3,848, 608 
7,252, 636 
409,380 
1,144 
15,520 

« $3,234,424 
1,499,814 
1,277,476 
100,595 
2,080 
1,424 

T .ivprnnnl .... 

tTiimliiirp' . 

T4r»rrl i'riiy ...... 


n tn ti rl pr _ . 

Total ..-. 

693,717 

38,215,897 

« 6,115,813 



a Dollars. 


The above table shows that the imports to Venezuela in 1903 from 
the six foreign ports taken into consideration amounted to $6,115,813. 

Imports from New York, 1902-3.- The consul-general of Venezuela 
at New York advises that the total shipments from the port of 
New York to the Republic of Venezuela during the year 1903 con¬ 
sisted of 434,967 packages of merchandise, weighing 26,175,854.49 











































































































350 


VENEZUELA 


kilograms, valued at 16,257,611.06 bolivars, as compared with 382,511 
packages, weighing 21,272,826.51 kilograms, valued at 12,911,885.85 
bolivars, shipped in 1902. 

The following table shows the movement of this commerce by 
months: 


Month. 

1902. 

1903. 

Number 
of pack¬ 
ages. 

Weight. 

Value. 

Number 
of pack¬ 
ages. 

Weight. 

Value. 

January. 

February . 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

September. 

October. 

November. 

December. 

Total. 

35,593 
37,160 
49,706 
46, 481 
29,357 
31,570 
16,240 
23,111 
20,239 
26,968 
41,488 
24,598 

Kilos. 

2,020,591.85 
1,822,715. 97 
2,581,753.53 
2,389,538.98 
1,831,011.53 
1,666,851.55 
1,061,047.09 
1, 460,682. 70 
1,312,207.66 
1,538,207. 30 
2,285,825.15 
1,302,393.20 

Bolivars. 
1,006,321.05 
1,108, 770. 95 
2,216,318.25 
1,614,099.00 
957,718.80 
811, 732.45 
594,199.30 
1,278,939. 95 
684,020.25 
800,942. 90 
1,205,818.10 
665,974.85 

32 

39,376 
25,751 
25,357 
39,384 
28, 568 
34,818 
45, 630 
36,530 
64,287 
49,151 
46,083 

Kilos. 

38.69 
2,700,236. 75 
1,455,343. 40 
1,526,158.20 
2,150,853.22 
2,202,889.50 
2,074,735.80 
2,333,985.52 
2,181,658.75 
3,942,153.15 
2,823,667.46 
2,784,134.05 

" Bolivars. 

4,915.00 
1,058,454.10 
1,338,530. 45 
1,380,869.46 
1,650,059.15 

1.205.307.50 
1,530,616.45 

1.777.253.50 
1,107,998. 05 
1,805,668. 20 
1,835,474.25 
1,562,464.95 

382,511 

21,272,826.51 

12,944,885.85 

434,967 

26,175,854.49 

16,257,611.06 


a 5 bolivars taken as equal to the U. S. dollar. 


LA GUAIRA TRADE, 1903. 

The following tables, furnished b}^ the La Guaira Harbor Corpora¬ 
tion Company, show the foreign imports by nationalities through the 
port of La Guaira in 1903: 


La Guaira imports , 1903. 


Month. 

Germany. 

United States. 

Spain. 

France. 

1903. 

January. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

February . 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

September. 

October. 

November. 

December. 

Total. 

31,710 
6,602 
6,525 
12,303 
14,898 
12,814 
14,661 
17,915 
24, 255 
15,168 

1,317,650 
272, 726 
312,071 
517,067 
773,005 
680, 950 
723,705 
790,289 
1,254,624 
676,513 

15,619 
15,711 
19, 589 
12, 790 
15,586 

19, 639 
27,365 

20, 900 
27,403 
37, 952 
34,870 

1,002, 436 
1,938, 851 
1,211,370 
842,083 
925,188 
1,798,446 
1,650,577 
1,324,452 
1,694,808 
2,315,531 
2,998,918 

2,766 
4,571 
5,040 
2,381 
4,013 
3,769 
5,442 
6,148 
6,095 
5,267 
4,083 

94,492 
149, 369 
167,123 
87,269 
130,767 
151, 571 
193,145 
216, 741 
230,489 
169,186 
144,266 

817 

1,120 

1,020 

956 

815 

1,182 

1,670 

1,500 

1,977 

4,019 

3,037 

47,024 
74,683 
97,523 
64,198 
55,321 
83,132 
108,955 
105,889 
119,127 
175,991 
165,066 

156,851 7,318,600 

247,424 

17,702,660 

49,575 

1,734,418 

18,113 

1,096,909 


Month. 

Holland. 

England. 

Italy. 

Belgium. 

1903. 

January. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

February . 

March. 

April. 

Mav. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

September. 

October. 

November. 

December. 

Total. 

1,895 
2,176 
1,258 
3,583 
4,963 
3,325 
2,785 
3,110 
4,204 
3,596 
3,072 

113,121 
84, 257 
67,722 
215,284 
284,781 
183,202 
169.120 
216, 551 
245,373 
227,140 
245,538 

1,396 
1, 728 
1,227 
1, 554 
3,157 
3,411 
4,145 
6 , 791 
5,282 
8,442 
4,655 

169,154 
1,911,792 
186, 704 
1,660, 578 
293,198 
783, 792 
1,959, 063 
679,866 
1,158,014 
620, 044 
3,286,218 

1,326 

311 

922 

1,158 

404 

990 

1,353 

1,339 

1,037 

486 

2,381 

67,465 
19,524 
56, 595 
61,223 
22, 755 
57,234 
80,342 
73,029 
66,835 
42,692 
129,682 

11 

157 

•812 

116 

200 

200 

2,597 
30,036 
43,356 
22,071 

36,000 

36,000 

33,967 

2,052,089 

41,821 

12,708,453 

11,707 

677,276 

1,496 

170,060 
















































































































COMMERCE 1903 


351 


La Guaira imports , 1903 —Continued. 


Month. 

Colombia. 

Denmark. 

Cuba. 

Portugal. 

Austria. 

Total. 

1903. 

January. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

Pkgs. 

Kilos. 

February . 











23,819 
57, 341 
35,815 
29, 759 
41,363 
47,434 
55, 702 
54, 657 
63,918 
84,217 
67, 669 

i, 493,692 
5,499,141 
2,089, 799 
3,286,062 
2,251,269 
3,843,804 
4,862,646 
3,376,698 
4,305, 400 
4,841,208 
7,690,794 

March. 



2 

358 

1 

60 





April. 








May. 











June. 

1 

47 



5 

74 





July. 


10 

1,335 

5 

247 

100 

5,000 

75 

6,840 
20,494 

August. 



128 

September. 





5 

465 



October. 

4 

385 






1 

50 

November. 








December. 









403 

44,693 










Total. 

5 

432 

12 

1, G93 

16 

846 

100 

5,000 

607 

72,077 

561,694 

43,540,513 





Packages. 

Kilos. 

For La Guaira. 

525,120 
36, 574 

41,488,813 

2,051,700 

In transit for Ciudad Bolivar. 

Total. 

561,694 

43, 540,513 



La Guaira imports, exports, and coasting trade, 1903. —The following 
table furnished b} r the La Guai ra Harbor Corporation Company shows 
the foreign imports and exports and the coasting trade of La Guaira, 
by articles, during 1903: 



Vessels. 

Goods. 

Hardware and dry 
goods. 

Month. 

With 

general 

cargo. 

With 

coal. 

With 

lumber. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

1903. 

.Tfiniia tv 








February. 

March. 

A pril r 

7 

17 

17 
19 

18 
19 
22 
19 
23 
21 
21 

5 


2, 980 
17, 058 

8,443 
8,296 
12,837 
13,549 
17, 753 
15,771 
14,578 
23,835 
19, 664 

297,491 
777,572 
584,171 
642,288 
872,873 
754,740 
1,150,019 
1,130,969 
1,175,068 
1,480,284 
1,145,606 

349 
1,396 
1,135 
1,556 
3,297 
3,156 
4,409 
6,5l6 
7,415 
8,522 
5,820 

12,392 
62,402 
49, 622 
67,811 
99,419 
124,899 
145,579 
266,161 
236,737 
320,020 
226,789 

May. 

June 

1 


July. 

August. 

September. 

C ipfnLpr 

2 

1 


November. 

December. 

Total. 

5 


203 

14 


154,764 

10,017,081 

43,601 

1,611,831 

Month. 

Provisions and 
liquors. 

Oils. 

Kerosene. 

Lumber. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

1903. 









February . 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

September. 

October. 

November... 

December. 

16,090 
30,459 
20,226 
14,879 
19, 896 
21,148 
24,247 
21,695 
28,924 
38,781 
29,431 

1,009,901 
1,372,308 
1,164,436 
810,454 
1,003,876 
1,175,699 
1,312,145 
1,184,572 
1,375,227 
1,913,600 
1,533,325 

1,227 
1,308 
913 
917 
627 
2,960 
1,438 
3,336 
3,059 
452 
1,946 

55,332 
118,138 
59,280 
54, 220 
34,180 
133,151 
67,977 
149,575 
142,844 
32,251 
89, 361 

3,131 
5,840 
4,706 
3,250 
4,196 
4,409 
5,995 
3,901 
5,965 
7,926 
7,710 

112,004 
205, 975 
167,529 
114,206 
151,326 
155,212 
213, 357 
138,205 
211,340 
278,096 
275,360 

313 

200 

200 

86 

150 

502 

1,409 

700 

477 

8,999 
7,207 
82,604 

31,746 
66,539 
64,191 
108, 495 
123,515 
70, 236 

Total. 

265,779 

13,855,543 

18,183 

936,316 

57,029 

2,022,610 

4,037 

563,532 








































































































































































352 


VENEZUELA 


Month. 

Cement. 

Coal. 

Machines. 

Railway 

material. 

Total. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Kilos. 

1903. 










.Tarmarv 










February. 




3 

346 

39 

6,226 

23,819 

1,493,692 

March. 

805 

133,340 

2,790,111 

95 

16, 730 

67 

13; 566 

57, 341 

5,499,141 

April. 

125 

21,850 


65 

33,168 

2 

2,536 

35,815 

2,089,799 

May. 

415 

69 ,600 

1,430,000 

186 

4,143 

60 

10, 736 

29, 759 

3,286,062 

.Tune. 

500 

88,465 


10 

1,130 



41,363 

2,251,269 

July. 

1,826 

306,464 

1,086,021 

19 

24,357 

281 

51,515 

47,434 

3,843,804 

August. 

1,655 

285,840 

1,605,713 

13 

3,905 

42 

5,572 

55, 702 

4,862,646 

September 

2,878 

434, 829 

4,363 

28 

3,833 



54, 657 

3,376, 698 

October. 

2,550 

422,298 

618;000 

10 

10; 476 

8 

4,915 

63, 918 

4,305,400 

November. 

3,938 

670,880 

10,016 

48 

6 ,339 

15 

6,207 

84/217 

4,841,208 

December. 

2, 599 

440,000 

3,902,453 

16 

6 ,945 

3 

712 

67,669 

7,690, 794 

Total. 

17,291 

2,873, 566 

11,446,677 

493 

111,372 

517 

101,985 

561,694 

43,540,513 


Foreign imports. 



Packages. 

Kilos. 

For La Guaira. 

525,120 
36,564 

41,488,813 
2,051, 700 

In transit for Ciudad Bolivar. 

Total. 

561,694 

43,540,513 



Foreign exports. 


Products. 

Packages. 

Kilos. 

Bags of coffee. 

152,625 
114,947 
152,891 
16,339 

9,059, 959 
6,318,227 
1,491,814 
892, 256 

Bags of cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundrv. 

Total. 

436,802 

17,762,286 



Packages. 

Kilos. 

For La Guaira. 

361,144 
75,658 

16,632,414 
1,129,872 

In transit from Ciudad Bolivar. 

Total......... 

436,802 

17,762,286 



Coasting trade. 


Imports. 


Goods. 

Kilos. 

13,127,279 
1,407,037 
745,025 
2,500 

Goods from Ciudad Bolivar. 

Wood (rough). 

Coal. 

Total.. 

15,281,841 



Exports. 

Goods . 

Kilos. 

6,278,588 
1,628,932 
849,248 

Goods in transit for Ciudad Bolivar.. 
Goods from Ciudad Bolivar. 


Total. 

8,756, 768 



Exports in 1902-3. —The following 1 tables show the number of 
packages, weight, and values of goods exported through the seven 
custom-houses of Venezuela during the liscal year ending June 30, 
1903: 













































































































COMMERCE 1903 


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Exports of Venezuela during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903 —Continued. 

MARACAIBO. 


354 


VENEZUELA 


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PUERTO SUCRE. 


355 


COMMERCE 1903. 


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356 


VENEZUELA. 


Resume of values of exports by nationalities in 1903. 

United States. 

France. 

Holland. 

Germany. 

Spain. 

England. 

Cuba.. 

Austria. 

Italy. 

Sweden and Norway. 

Other ports. 

Belgium. 

Haiti.. 


a Bolivars. 

14,163,147. 75 
12, 366,597.92 
7, 888,962. 56 
2,163,095.15 
1, 847,061. 56 
503,043. 80 
399, 325. 00 
162, 949. 20 
126, 655. 65 
20, 313. 00 
8, 725. 00 
1,652.00 
50.00 


Total 


39, 651, 578.59 


Resume of values of exports by ports in 1903. 

La Guaira. 

Puerto Cabello. 

Maracaibo.- .. 

Carupano. 

Puerto Sucre. 

La Vela. 

Guanta. 


a Bolivars. 

14, S09, 691. 61 
5, 900, 007. 36 
14,578, 856.90 
2, 923, 903.52 
271, 462. 00 
1,144, 603. 80 
23, 053. 40 


Total 


39, 651, 578. 59 


The foregoing statistics show that the largest exports went to the 
United States of America, the other countries coming in the following 
order according to the amount of exports, namely, France. Netherlands 
and colonies, Germany, Spain, Great Britain and colonies, Cuba, 
Austria-Hungary, Italy, Sweden and Norway, other ports, Belgium, 
and Haiti. 

The value of exports to the six principal countries, compared with 
the aggregate total, is as follows: 


Per cent. 


United States. 35 

France. 34 

% 

Netherlands. 19 

Germany. 5 

Spain. 4.5 

Great Britain. 1.2 


The comparison of values of the first and second half year shows 
that the latter had a larger export than the first. The increase of 
value of exports to each of the six principal countries during the 
second half of the fiscal year 1902-3, compared with the first half, is 
the following: To Germany, more than 350 per cent; to Great Britain, 
more than 350 per cent; to Spain, more than 250 per cent; to France, 
more than 200 per cent; to the United States, more than 200 per cent: 
to the Netherlands, more than 130 per cent. 


«5 bolivars taken as equal to the U.S. dollar. 






































COMMERCE 1903. 


357 


The exports to Cuba represented 1 per cent of the aggregate exports. 
I he custom*house through which the largest amount was exported 
^as that ot La Guaira, the others coming in the following order; JVfara- 
caibo, Puerto Cabello, Carupano, La Vela, Puerto Sucre, and Guanta. 

l he value of goods exported through the four first custom-houses 
amounts to 96 per cent of the total, viz: 

Per cent. 

Lei ( t uaira. ^ 

Maracaibo. 


Puerto Cabello. 
Carupano.. 


36. 5 
15 


Total . 96 

The increase in the value of exports through each custom-house 
during the second half of the fiscal year 1902—3, compared with the 
first half, is as follows: 

Per cent. 

Puerto Cabello.•. 3(37 

La G uaira. 347 

Maracaibo. 132 

UNITED STATES CONSUL’S REPORT, 1903. 

The United States consul at La Guaira, under date of February 5, 
1904, reported on the trade conditions of La Guaira during 1903. The 
following is an abstract of said report: 

In considering the commerce of this port and of Venezuela in 
general, it must be remembered that all imports now pay an additional 
duty of 30 per cent, which was added to the tariff about ten months ago. 

The only statistics published showing the trade of La Guaira, the 
principal port of the Republic, are those prepared by the Harbor 
Corporation (Limited), and these onl} r give the quantities. 1 am, 
therefore, compelled to make the most of these in order to show the 
comparative trade of the several countries through La Guaira and 
trust that my efforts will enable our importers and exporters to arrive 
at a fair estimate of their standing therein. 

Imports. —The following statement shows the imports, by quantities, 


County. 


United States 

England. 

Germany. 

Holland. 

Spain. 

France. 

Italy . 

Belgium. 

Austria. 

Portugal. 

Denmark_ 

Cuba. 

Colombia .... 

Total... 


1903 : 

Pack¬ 

ages. 

Quantity. 

Number. 

Met. tons. 

247,424 

17,703 

41,821 

12,709 

156.851 

7,319 

33,967 

2,052 

49,575 

1,734 

18,113 

1,097 

11,707 

677 

1,496 

170 

607 

72 

100 

5 

12 

1.7 

16 

.8 

5 

.4 

561,694 

43,540.9 








































358 


VENEZUELA. 


The foregoing shows that the United States is far ahead of all other 
countries in the imports into both La Guaira and the whole of Vene¬ 
zuela, and this fact is still more accentuated when we consider the class 
of merchandise imported and make certain deductions. According to 
this table England is second in the quantity imported, but when the 
nature of the imports is taken into account this position must be 
largely modified. 

Coal was imported to the amount of 11,447 tons, of which England 
furnished 8,753 tons; the United States, 2,(334 tons; and Germany, (30 
tons. Thus, if we deduct this article from the imports of these respec¬ 
tive countries, we find the standing of these three countries as follows: 
United States, 15,069 tons; England, 3,956 tons; and Germany, 7,258 
tons. This item of coal being about the cheapest item of imports, I 
thought that by making this deduction it would show the relative value 
of imports as near as can be gathered here. The next items which 
might be eliminated in this calculation as being articles of great bulk 
and small value are timber (564 tons) and cement (2,874 tons). All the 
timber imported here during the past year came from the United 
States, and perhaps 25 per cent of the cement. Deducting these from 
the preceding totals leaves the imports from the leading countries as 
follows: From the United States, 14,350 tons; from Germany, 5,821 
tons; from England, 3,956 tons; from Holland, 1,334 tons. These 
figures are given to show how far ahead of all other countries the 
United States is in her trade with this the chief port of Venezuela. 

\ 

Total imports by articles at La Guaira in 1903. 


Articles. 

Packages. 

Quantity. 

( 

Merchandise (drv goods). 

Number. 
154,764 
43,601 
265,779 
18,183 
57,029 
4,037 
17,291 

Metric tons. 

10,017 
#1,612 
13,856 
936 
2,023 
563 
2,873 
1,447 
111 
102 

Hardware. 

Provisions and liquors. . 

Oils (other than kerosene). 

Kerosene. 

Timber. 

Cement. 

Coal. 

Machinery. 

493 

517 

Railway materials. 

Total. 

561,694 

43,540 



Most prominent in the above table are the small imports in timber, 
machinery, and railway materials, showing that very little building is 
going on and that few industries are being opened or railways con¬ 
structed. The coal that is imported from England is for the railways. 
The coal coming from the United States is used by the gas company 
of Caracas for the manufacture of gas. 

























CUSTOMS LAWS. 


359 


Percentage of various imports. 


Articles. 

Percent. 

Merchandise (dry goods). 

23 01 

Hardware.'. 

3.7 
31.82 
2 15 

Provisions and liquors. 

Oil (other than kerosene). 

Kerosene. 

4.65 

1.29 

Timber. 



Articles. 

Percent. 

Cement. 

Coal. 

6.6 
26.29 
. 25 
.24 

Machinery. 

Railway materials. 

Total. 

100.00 


Exports from La Guaira.—The following statement shows the exports 
(articles and quantities) from La Guaira during the year 1903: 


Pounds. 

Coffee (152,625 bags). 19,977, 300 

Cacao (114,947 bags) . 13,927,076 

Hides. 3, 296, 234 

Sundries. 1,964,600 


Total. 39,165,210 

Of the foregoing exports 2,483,800 pounds were in transit for Ciudad 
Bolivar. 

The countries to which the exports were shipped are not given, but 
it may be stated that most, if not all, of the hides go to the United 
States. The coffee is divided between the different European countries 
and the United States. The cacao goes mostly to France and Spain. 

Coasting trade.—The coasting trade, as well the import and export 
trade, has been affected by the change in the commerce of Ciudad 
Bolivar. This commerce, which formerly went through the British 
colony of Trinidad and was there transshipped for Ciudad Bolivar, now 
comes through La Guaira and adds considerably to the trade of this 
port. 

Imports from New York, January to June, 1904.—The following table 
shows the value of articles exported from the port of New York to 
the ports of Venezuela from January to June, 1904: 


January . 
February 
March... 
April 

May. 

June .... 


"$433, 405. 35 
326, 922. 59 
317,537.46 
293,461.51 
193, 339.16 
242, 974. 38 


Total. 


«1, 807, 640.45 


CUSTOMS LAWS. 

FISCAL CODE. 

The Fiscal Code in force establishes (Law IX, art. 4) that all national 
bureaus or officers which collect or disburse public moneys depend 
directly and only on the Finance (Treasury) Department. 


«U. S. currency. 
















































360 


VENEZUELA. 


Open ports.—The same code (Law XIV) establishes: 

Article 1.—Are open for foreign import and export commerce, 
without an} r restriction, the ports of La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Ciu¬ 
dad Bolivar, Maracaibo, and Carupano, but the latter may only for¬ 
ward foreign goods coastwise for the eastern ports of the Republic, 
with the exception of Ciudad Bolivar. 

Art. 2. The ports of Sucre, Juan Griego, Gui’ria, Cano Colorado, 
Guanta, La Vela, and Porlamar are open for the importation of only 
the articles for their consumption and for exportation. 

Import commerce.-—Law XVI establishes: 

Article 1. Import commerce consists in legally introducing for¬ 
eign merchandise for its consumption in the Republic. 

Formalities in foreign ports.—According to the same code vessels of 
whatever description, arriving in Venezuelan ports, must be dispatched 
by the respective Venezuelan consular agent only for open ports of 
the Republic with the following documents: 

Bills of health certified by the consul. 

Manifests.—This document must include class, nationality, tonnage, 
and name of vessel and name of captain; the names of shippers of 
goods and consignees in the Venezuelan ports. The manifests must 
be signed bv the captain and must include all the cargo according to 
the bills of lading in numerical order. Each package must bear a 
mark and number and must be classified according to cases, bales, bar¬ 
rels, hogsheads,vtrunks, kegs, crates, and other pieces in which the 
goods are sent. The packages for each Venezuelan port must be 
added together as well as the total cargo bound for all the ports of the 
Republic. 

Bills of lading.—The captain of any vessel who has shipped in any 
foreign port goods bound for Venezuelan ports must also present in 
duplicate to the Venezuelan consul the bills of lading he has signed 
and issued to each shipper. 

Consular invoices.—Three copies of each consular invoice made out 
in the Spanish language must be presented to the respective Vene¬ 
zuelan consul. The invoice must include the name of the shipper and 
that of the consignee, the port of shipment and that to which the goods 
are sent; the class, nationality, and name of ship and that of its cap¬ 
tain; the mark, number, and class of each package; its contents, gross 
weight (precisely in kilograms), and its value. 

Transshipments of goods.—In case of transshipments the captain of the 
vessel to which the goods have been transshipped shall present to the 
Venezuelan consul at the port of transshipment the sealed dispatches, 
remitted by the consul who signed them, to the collector of the respec¬ 
tive custom-house to which the goods are bound. The captain shall 
likewise present the primitive manifest with a declaration in writing 
signed by him of having received them on board his ship, stating 
name, class, nationality, tonnage, and destination. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



ENCONTRADOS, PORT ON CATATUMBO RIVER, ZULIA STATE. 
(Courtesy of the Zulia Government.! 











COMMERCE WITH COLOMBIA. 


301 


Certification of documents.—Bills of health, manifests, Bills of lading, 
consular invoices, and transshipments must be presented at the respec¬ 
tive consulate of Venezuela for certification by the Venezuelan consul. 

Consular fees.—Venezuelan consuls charge consular fees for these 
services, as well as for all those comprised in the Venezuelan Consular 
Regulations, which establish the emoluments to be charged by Vene- 
zuelan consuls. (Consular Service Law, pages 19-2J, June 3, 1899. 
Published in pamphlet form with appendix.) 


TRANSIT COMMERCE WITH COLOMBIA. 

Goods in transit.—The transit of foreign goods to the Republic of 
Colombia is allowed through the ports of Maracaibo, with destination 
for Ciicuta, and Ciudad Bolivar a in transit to Orocue, subject to the 
formalities established for that purpose in the Venezuelan Fiscal Code. 
Goods, the importation of which is prohibited, are not allowed in 
transit. (Fiscal Code Law 23, Chapter I, arts. 1-26.) 

Importation of Colombian goods.—National products and manufactures 
of Colombia, introduced b} T way of the frontier, can only be imported 
through the custom-house of San Antonio del Tachira. This Vene- 
zuelan custom-house, that of Maracaibo, and that of Ciudad Bolivar a 
are the only ones authorized to import said Colombian products and 
manufactures, according to the provisions of the Fiscal Code. (Law 
23, Chapter II, arts. 27-38.) 

Exportations of Venezuela to Colombia.—For the exportation of Vene¬ 
zuelan products through the custom-house of San Antonio del Tachira 
there are special provisions in the Fiscal Code. (Law 23, Chapter III, 
art 


39-41.) 


REESTABLISHMENT OF TRAFFIC WITH COLOMBIA. 

I, Cipriano Castro, Provisional President of the United States of 
Venezuela, decree: 

Article 1 . Traffic with Colombia is reestablished. 

Art. 2. Foreign merchandise, goods, and products imported through 
the custom-house at Maracaibo, in transit for this Republic, and also 
those which may be exported from it, may be moved in steamships, 
lighters, and boats along the river Zulia, between El Guayabo and 
Puerto Villamizar, on simple compliance with the requirements of 
Law XXIII of the Code of Finance. 

Art. 3. All prior Decrees and Resolutions on the subject are hereby 

repealed. 

Art. L The Ministers of Interior Relations and of Finance and 
Public Credit are charged to see to the execution of this Decree. 
Given, signed, sealed with the seal of the National Executive and 


a Decree of July 14, 1904. 








362 


VENEZUELA. 


countersigned by the Ministers of Interior Relations and of Finance 
and Public Credit, at the Federal Palace at Caracas, on May 10, 1901, 
year 93 of the Independence and 16 of the Federation. 

CRISTOBAL COLON CUSTOM-HOUSE. 

Cipriano Castro, constitutional President of the United States of 
Venezuela, in use of the power vested in him by the acts of Congress 
of May 6, 1902, and April 11, 1903, issued the following decree 
(abstract): 

Whereas a port to be known by the name of Cristobal Colon has 
been ordered to be constructed at the Bay of the same name, in the 
territorial jurisdiction of Amacuro, on the western coast of the Gulf 
of Paria, according to the plans submitted by the engineer, Dr. Manuel 
Cipriano Perez, the said port is hereby declared to be a port of entry, 
authorized to do commerce of exportation, importation, and for the 
coastwise trade. 

The imports through the port of Cristobal Colon shall be limited to 
merchandise, fruits, and effects intended for its own consumption. 
Its coastwise trade shall be limited to the ports within its jurisdiction, 
and the articles which, as just stated, can be imported into it, and no 
others. 

According to the provisions of article 1 of Law No. XV, of the 
Fiscal Code, a custom-house shall be established at the said port of 
Cristobal Colon. 

In use of the power granted me by article 10 of Law XXXV of the 
Fiscal Code, I do hereby mark the jurisdiction of the Cristobal Colon 
custom-house as follows: From the promontory of Paria to the mouth 
of the Suarapiche. All the revenue ports established in this jurisdic¬ 
tion shall be subject to the new custom-house, but they shall continue 
to perform the duties assigned to them by the said Law XXXV. 

As soon as the Cristobal Colon custom-house is open to traffic 
which will be immediately after the termination of the work, the port 
of Ciudad Bolivar shall be again a port of entry, authorized for the 
commerce of importation and exportation and also the coastwise trade, 
with exactly the same powers and duties as it had until the 27th of 
May, 1903, when it was closed by order of the National Executive. 
Its jurisdiction shall be the same as before. 

Pending the construction of the building when the custom-house 
shall be established at Cristobal Colon, the Carupano custom-house 
shall continue to exercise the same functions as are now intrusted 
to it. 

TUCACAS CUSTOM-HOUSE. 

On November 28, 1903, the following decree constituting Tucacas a 
custom-house port was promulgated (abstract): 

Cipriano Castro, constitutional President of the United States of 
Venezuela, 


REOPENING OF THE ORINOCO. 


363 


In exercise of the powers conferred on me by the resolution of the 
National Congress dated the 6th of May, 1902, and the 11th of April, 
1903, decree: 

The port of Tucacas is constituted a customs port for foreign import 
and coast trade. 

Sole paragraph. The foreign import trade shall he restricted to 
merchandise, fruits, and articles for its own consumption, and for the 
coast trade it shall only have power to conduct to the ports under its 
jurisdiction the merchandise, fruits, and articles which are imported 
from abroad. 

In exercise of the faculty vested in me b} r article 10 of Law XXY 
of the Code of Finance, I confer on the custom-house of Tucacas the 
following* jurisdiction: From the mouth of the Oroa to the Orinoco, 
and the coast guards established in this jurisdiction shall be subject 
to it. 

REOPENING OF THE ORINOCO. 

I, Cipriano Castro, Provisional President of the United States of 
Venezuela, decree: 

Article 1. The custom-house of port Cristobal Colon, created by 
Executive decree of December 7, 1903, shall begin to exercise its func¬ 
tions from June 1 next, and its jurisdiction shall extend from the 
promontoiy of Paria to the mouth of the Rio Grande. 

Art. 2. In fultillment of the provisions of article -f of the said decree 
of December 7, 1903, the custom-house of Ciudad Bolivar is empow¬ 
ered to exercise the same functions and duties which it had before its 
suppression and with the same jurisdiction. 

Art. 3. The custom-house of Tucacas, created by Executive decree 
of November 28, 1903, shall begin to exercise the functions for which 
it has been created from June 1 next, and its jurisdiction shall extend 
from Boca Aroa to Boca de Guegiie. The resolution of the depart¬ 
ment of finance and public credit dated November 28, 1903, is there¬ 
fore repealed. 

Art. 1. The custom-house of La Vela, temporarily closed by Execu¬ 
tive decree of May 27, 1903, is empowered to carry on import, export, 
and coast trade, with the same faculties and duties which it had before 
its suppression. 

Sole paragraph. The jurisdiction of this custom-house shall extend 
from the Boca de Guegiie to the Point of Oribono. 

Art. 5. Let an account be rendered of this decree to the National 
Congress at its next assembly. 

Art. 6. The minister of finance and public credit is charged to see 
to execution of this decree. 

Given, signed, sealed with the seal of the National Executive and 
countersigned by the minister of finance and public ciedit at the bed- 
era! Palace, at Caracas, this 23d day of May, 190L 


304 


VENEZUELA. 


TRANSSHIPMENT FROM THE WEST INDIES. 

[United States of Venezuela—Department of finance and public credit—Direction of customs— 

Caracas, May 23, 1904—93 and 46.] 

Resolved: The President of the Republic has resolved that after 
the lapse of the ultramarine periods appointed by Law XVI of the 
Code of Finance, counted from this- date, Law XIX of the Code of 
Finance, the first article of which is as follows, shall be carried out in 
all its parts: “ Fruits, merchandise, and effects coming from foreign 
colonics, which are imported through the ports of the Republic, which 
are duly qualified for importation, shall pay 30 per cent additional. 
Those which, coming from the ports of Europe or from the United 
States of North America for Venezuela, are transshipped in the said 
colonies to other ships which have to bring them, shall pay 30 per cent 
additional on the duties which are charged upon each manifest, accord¬ 
ing to the tariff now in force. This last provision shall commence to 
take effect when the National Executive may deem it expedient." 

The administrators of the maritime custom-houses of the Republic 
shall strictly enforce said Law XIX of the Code of Finance. To be 
communicated and published. For the National Executive: J. C. pe 
Castko. 


PORT OF MANOA. 

The u Gaceta Oficial" of Venezuela, official organ of the Government, 
published at Caracas, in its edition of July 28, 1900, contains a decree 
making the port of Manoa, situated in the western part of the delta 
of the Orinoco, available only for the exportation of iron ore from 
the Imataca mines. The large steamships in which this mineral is 
exported, whether they arrive in ballast or loaded with machinery for 
the mine, which machinery according to law is exempt from duties, 
may end their voyage at Manoa without having to go to Ciudad Boli¬ 
var. This machinery may be received and dispatched by a customs 
officer appointed by the administrator of the custom-house at Ciudad 
Bolivar. 


SANITARY LAW OF VENEZUELA. 

Jose Tadeo Managas, President of the Republic, etc., considering— 
1. That it is necessary to establish general and efficient rules to 
safeguard the inhabitants of the Republic from the contagion that 
may be brought b}^ ships which enter her ports coming from infested 
ones; 2, that it is also necessary to establish the rules that are to be 
observed for the sanitary inspection of said vessels, and for the quar¬ 
antine to which those coming from infested places, or who have not 
complied with the provisions that shall hereafter be established, must 
submit; and, 3, that the various rulings that have been made upon the 


SANITARY LAW. 


365 


subject are contained in different orders, many of which refer only 
to special cases, and there having been other cases not covered by the 
same, decrees: 

Article 1 . In order for a vessel of any kind to be admitted to the 
ports of the Republic there must be presented to the chief civil author¬ 
ity, to the captain of the port or the person acting for him, and to the 
sanitary inspector at the time of making his visit, and which shall be 
described later on, a certificate issued by the proper authority in the 
port of clearance, which document shall be certified by the consul or 
consular agent of Venezuela, stating that there was no epidemic what¬ 
ever on the date on which it was issued, which, at most, must not be 
later than the day before sailing. 

Art. 2. In ports having no consul or consular agent of Venezuela 
the consul or consular agent of a friendly nation shall certify the bill 
of health, and in case there is no consul or consular agent of a friendly 
nation the bill of health shall be certified to by the sanitary inspector 
or by the person to whom the power of issuing bills of health is attrib¬ 
uted. These requisites being complied with, the bill of health shall be 
considered clean. 

Art. 3. When there are no consuls in the port whence the vessel 
clears, this fact must be stated in the bill of health, and unless this is 
done it shall not be considered a clean bill. 

Art. I. When a ship has to stop in other ports before reaching 
those of Venezuela it shall bring a clean bill of health from the port 
whence it cleared and from the port or ports where it may have 
stopped. Without these requisites it shall be subject to quarantine. 

Art. 5. If in a port at which it stops the ship’s bill of health should 
be taken up and not returned, it' shall be sufficient to present a 
clean bill of health from the second port, stating that entrance was 
made into said port with a clean bill of health from the first port. 
Without these requisites it shall be subject to quarantine. 

Art. 6 . Ships whose period of navigation extends in excess of forty 
days before touching at a port on their routes shall present clean bills 
of health from the latter, stating in the same the fact of having pre¬ 
sented bills of health more than forty days old. Without these requi¬ 
sites the}^ shall be subject to quarantine. 

Art. 7. Ships desirous of communicating with a port before enter¬ 
ing the same shall remain outside of the port or harbor and shall dis¬ 
patch from there a boat carrying a white flag, and said boat, until it 
has been inspected, shall anchor at a distance from the other ships. 
They shall bring in it their bill of health, and if in conformity with 
the foregoing requirements it shall be permitted to communicate with 
the port; but if the bill of health should not be presented, or should 
be found unclean, communication shall be refused and the ship shall 
not be permitted to enter without undergoing quarantine. 


366 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 8 . If a ship, subject to quarantine on account of some of the 
provisions already noted, should prove with authentic documents that 
neither in the port of clearance nor in that where it called there exists 
no epidemic whatever, and that because of the loss of the bill of health, 
or for any other sufficient reason, the same was not brought, then the 
quarantine may be raised. 

Art. 9. When a ship anchors in the ports of the Republic, the cap¬ 
tain of the port, or the person acting for him, together with the health 
officer, if there should be one, shall proceed within speaking distance 
of the ship and shall investigate as follows: (1) The origin of the ship; 
(2) the number of days at sea; (3) whether on leaving the port there 
was any epidemic in same; (4) whether it brings a bill of health; (5) 
whether there has been sickness or death during the passage. The 
foregoing questions being answered satisfactorily, they shall proceed 
alongside the ship and go on board in order to verify the correctness 
of the same and to examine the crew and passengers. If the bill of 
health is not clean, or if during the voyage any epidemic should have 
been declared aboard, and if any person has died or has become ill, the 
ship shall be isolated until the board of health reports on the case and 
determines whether the ship shall be subject to quarantine and for 
what time. 

Art. 10. After the visit of the health officer in the manner pre¬ 
scribed, if it should be found that there had been no deaths or sick¬ 
ness and that the ship brings a clean bill of health, she shall be allowed 
to enter. 

Art. 11. If the bill of health should state that the ship comes from 
a place where there is no epidemic whatever, or if deaths or sickness 
should have occurred during the voyage, or if it should not bring any 
bill of health, or if the same should lack some of the requisites pro¬ 
vided for in this decree, it shall be subject to quarantine during the 
time designated by the board of health, bearing in mind the contagious 
nature of the disease, if such should be the case, or any other circum¬ 
stances that may be noted, a decision being given as quickly as pos¬ 
sible in order to prevent airy damage to commerce. 

Art. 12. The quarantine shall not last longer than forty days from 
the date on which an} 7 individual shall die on board attacked by a 
deadly contagious epidemic. 

Art. 13. Quarantines shall be confined to the place designated by 
the board of health, to the leeward of the towns, and a mile distant 
from the coast. 

Art. 11. The mayors, or in their absence the chief political author¬ 
ity of the respective ports, shall carefully see that the quarantine is 
stringent, to which end they shall establish observation boats that 
shall prevent all communication from the quarantined ship with other 
ships and with the land. The crew of the observation boat shall in no 


1 


SANITARY LAW. 


367 


case go on board the ship, nor shall the crew of the ship go on board 
the boat. 

Art. 15. A ship placed in quarantine shall disembark its papers 
and correspondence by means of an observation boat in the following 
manner: It shall come close to the ship’s side and to the windward of 
the same, and without touching the ship shall present to it a pole on 
the end of which there shall be a lead or copper box into which the 
ship’s papers shall be placed. After the boat receives the mails the}" 
shall be duly fumigated thereon and sent to the post-office. The board 
of health shall designate the cases in which it shall be necessary to 
fumigate the mails. 

Art. 16. If a ship under quarantine needs any aid it shall raise a 
white flag, which on being seen shall be approached by the observa¬ 
tion boat, and after taking the precautions mentioned in the preceding 
article, shall receive the communication specifying the help asked for, 
and after fumigating the same, as already provided for, it shall be 
placed in the hands of the mayor so that he may take charge of and 
give the help asked for. 

Art. IT. If during the quarantine any person should die the corpse 
shall be thrown into the water, observing the precautions which in 
such cases may be required. 

Art. 18. It is the duty of the captain of the ship during the quar¬ 
antine to shift the goods of his cargo so that they may be purified by 
the air, and to repeatedly fumigate his ship. 

Art. It). No ship is permitted to communicate in any way whatever 
with the port before the visit of the health officer takes place; conse¬ 
quently any person who lands before said visit is made shall be 
immediately reembarked by the mayor, imposing upon said person 
and upon the captain the punishment they deserve for the infraction 
of the sanitary laws. 

Art. 20. All communication of ships with the territory of Vene¬ 
zuela, before the same shall have been inspected by the authorities 
and permission obtained for anchoring, is prohibited by this decree, 
as is also the landing of any person along the coast or in any places 
where there are no towns. Any person infringing this provision is 
subject to be reembarked by the local authorities, in addition to the 
penalties imposed on those who disobey the orders of the sanitary 
police. 

Art. 21. Cases of imminent danger to the ship or of shipwreck arc 
excepted from the penalties provided for in the two preceding articles. 

Art. 22. The infraction of the articles of this decree shall be pun¬ 
ished according to the laws now in force. 

Art. 23. All previous laws regarding bills of health and sanitary 
inspection are hereby repealed. 


368 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 24. The Secretary of Interior and Justice is charged with the 
execution of this decree. 

Given, signed by my hand, sealed with the seal of the executive 
power, and countersigned by the Secretary of Interior and Justice, 
at Caracas, August 11, 1847, 18th year of the law and 37th of the 
independence. (Signed! Jose T. Monagas. For His Excellency: 
Tomas J. Sanavria. 


CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF VENEZUELA. 

The following table shows the number of chambers of commerce 
existing in Venezuela and the dates on which they were established: 


City. 

Date. 

City. 

Date. 

t 

Caracas . 

Nov. 22,1893 

Cariipano. 

July 10,1895 
Feb. 5,1899 

Maracaibo. 

May 29,1891 
June 27,1894 

Cuidad Bolivar. 

Valencia. 

Barquisimeto.T. 

May 10,1901 

Puerto Cabello. 

July 10,1894 



INSURANCE COMPANIES. 


For more than fifty years there have existed in Venezuela, and espe¬ 
cial^ in several ports, agencies of maritime, tire, and life insurance 
companies from foreign countries. At present, besides these foreign 
agencies, there are two national companies, namely, the Maracaibo 
Maritime Insurance Company, established in 1880, with a capital of 
$100,000 and $10,000 reserve fund, and the Venezuelan General Insur¬ 
ance Company of Caracas, established in 1893, with a capital of $110,000. 
Since its establishment it has carried on maritime and tire insurance. 


TARIFF LAW OF VENEZUELA. 

[In force since July 1, 1902.] 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Article 1 . Foreign merchandise imported through the custom¬ 
houses of the Republic shall be distributed into nine classes, as follows: 
Class No. 1, paying 5 centimos of bolivar per kilogram. 

Class No. 2, paying 10 centimos of bolivar per kilogram. 

Class No. 3, paying 25 centimos of bolivar per kilogram. 

Class No. 4, paying 75 centimos of bolivar per kilogram. 

Class No. 5, paying 1.25 bolivares per kilogram. 

Class No. G, paying 2.50 bolivares per kilogram. 

Class No. 7, paying 5 bolivares per kilogram. 

Class No. 8, paying 10 bolivares per kilogram. 

Class No. 9, paying 20 bolivares per kilogram. 




















TARIFF LAW. 


369 


Paragraph 1. 


-Class No. 


1, payingS centimes of bolivar per kilogram 


1. Apparatus and machinery for generating steam by means of 
petroleum residues. 

2. Apparatus and machinery for lighting with gas and electricity. 

3. Hatching apparatus. 

4. Fire engines. 

5. Calcium carbide. 

6. Hydrographic and navigation charts. 

7. Carriages, accessories, and materials intended exclusively for 
railroads. 


8. Wood ashes, residues of pressed grapes, guano, and every other 
substance, vegetable, mineral, or artificial, used as fertilizers and not 
included in any other class. 

9. Roman cement. 

10. Tileston roofing cement. 

11. Springs, axletrees, rims, and boards for carts and carriages to 
be constructed in the country. 

12. Geographical or astronomical globes, atlases, and printed or 
lithographed maps and topographical plans of all classes. 

13. Rennet. 

U. Eggs. 

15. Native iron and scrap iron in pieces, both for smelting purposes. 

16. Books printed, unbound or bound in paper, treating of science, 
arts, and trades, catalogues, newspapers, and writing samples for 


primary schools. 

17. Wood prepared for shipbuilding, logs of pine, pitch pine for 
masts and square or round beams of pitch pine, oak, or other common 
wood not specified exceeding 25 centimeters intended to be sawn into 
planks, beams, or into an}^ other form. 

18. Machines and apparatus for electrical telegraph. 

19. Steam motors of all kinds and all the appurtenances thereto. 

20. Windmills and all the appurtenances thereto. 

21. Unmanufactured gold and silver. 

22. Unmanufactured platinum or white gold. 

23. Living plants of all kinds; herbariums or collections of dry 
plants other than medicinal. 

24. Bridcres with their chains, floors, and other accessories when 

O 7 J 

intended for public use or agricultural purposes; otherwise they pay 
duty on the materials of which they are composed. 

25. Clocks for public use if not imported by order of the National 
Government. 

26. Seeds, if not alimentary, for sowing purposes. 

27. When empty, ordinary glass bottles are imported in boxes, to 
be afterwards used to carry the same number of bottles when filled, 


4a—04 


24 



370 


VENEZUELA. 


the bottles and the boxes shall pay the respective duty to which they 
are liable under this law. 

28. Articles in which goods exempt from duty or burdened with 
lower duties are imported, such as trunks, carpetbags, portmanteaus, 
or cloths which are not thereby deteriorated in value, shall be weighed 
apart and shall pay the duty of the class to which the}' respectively 
belong. 

Class II .—Duty 10 centimes of a bolivar ( 1.93 cent #) per kilogram . 

29. Sulphuric acid and liquefied carbolic-acid gas. 

30. Bran, wheat, corn, linseed, oats, barley, and other cereals and 
cakes of the same for cattle fodder. 

31. Fishhooks and iron wire, galvanized or otherwise, not wrought. 

32. Almagra, ocher, chalk, Spanish white, clay, caput mortum , and 
all earths for building purposes not specified. 

33. Mineral or vegetable tar, asphalt, raw petroleum, and bitumens 
of all kinds, except blacking. 

34. Hoops of iron or wood for casks, barrels, and sieves. 

35. Mineral waters. 

36. Rice in the grain and oats. 

37. Iron bars (as tools). 

38. Common bottles of ordinary black or white glass for bottling 
liquors, aerated waters, and sterilized milk, and empty demijohns and 
square bottles of similar glass, generally used for importing gin. 

39. Hydraulic pumps and their pipes, valves, and other accessories. 

40. Boats and lighters, whole or in detached pieces, and the oars and 
sails for the same. 

41. Tar, pitch or rosin. 

42. Hydraulic lime, common lime, and all other similar materials 
for building purposes not elsewhere mentioned. 

43. Parings and wastes of skins and dried sheep intestines, such as 
are used by sausage makers. 

44. Hemp or tow, raw or twisted for calking; tarred tow and cotton 
wastes for cleaning machines. 

45. Conduits or pipes of iron or lead, and the joints or connections 
for said pipes. * 

46. Cardboard in the paste and the filtering material used in brew¬ 
eries. 

47. Waterproof cardboard for roofing and other purposes. 

48. Carts and wagons. 

49. Wheelbarrows and fire ladders. 

50. Barley in the grain. 

51. Rve and wheat in the grain. 

52. Coaches, chaises, gigs, omnibuses, phaetons, and all kinds of 
vehicles not otherwise mentioned. 


TARIFF LAW. 371 



ashes. 

54. Flour of barley, chick-pease, “Du Barry's Revalenta,” and any 
flour not otherwise mentioned. 

55. Ice imported into ports where ice factories established with 
permission of the Government are running. 

56. Iron in bars, round or square, in plates or sheets, intended to 
make boilers or tanks. 

57. Bricks for polishing knives. 

58. Bricks, even if fireproof, slabs and tiles of baked clay, jaspar 
wood, or any other material for pavements not exceeding 60 centi¬ 
meters; tiles of clay or slate, and all kinds of common unwrought 
stone. 

59. Firewood and charcoal in pieces. 

60. Common wood, such as planks, beams, and joists of pitch pine, 
and other wood, not planed, tongued, or grooved, less than 25 centi¬ 
meters in thickness and pine wood not specified, of whatever dimen¬ 
sions. 

61. Maize in the grain. 

62. Apples, grapes, pears, and all other fresh fruits. 

63. Machinery, tanks of galvanized iron, and apparatus not speci¬ 
fied in Class 1, the total weight of which exceeds 1,000 kilograms, and 
ice boxes. 

64. Music in sheets or book form. 

65. Manioc. 

66. Manila paper; and dried grass, not medicinal, such as hay and 
other similar, to be used as fodder for animals. 

67. Pitch, common, white, black, or yellow. 

68. Logwood, guaiacum, Brazil wood, mulberry wood, rose, sandal¬ 
wood, and others similar, in shavings. 

69. Slates for roofs. 

70. Slates for billiard tables. 

71. Slates with or without frames, slate books and pencils. 

72. Pine resins and all other resins, not medicinal. 

73. Wheels for carriages, carts, and wagons, iron axle boxes for the 
same, and steel wheels fitted on steel axles. 

74. Epsom salts. 

75. Glauber’s salts and silicate of soda. 

76. Sienna and black earths for cleaning purposes. 

77. Tombstones or sepulchers, of marble, granite, or any other 
material. 

78. Shingles. 

79. Chalk, white, in sticks or powder, and marble and glass powder. 

80. Gypsum in pieces or powder, and gypsum for casting. 


372 


VENEZUELA. 


Class III. 


—Duty 25 cent linos of a bolivar {f8 cents) per kilogram. 


81. Olive oil and its imitations, and cotton-seed oil. 

82. Kerosene oil, colza oil, bone oil, and so-called “esperma de 
cristal” oil, for machines. 

83. Stearic and oleic acids; stearin, pure, unworked, and stearin 
mixed with paraffin, known as trade stearin. 

84. Acetic, hydrochloric, or muriatic acids; boric acid and borax. 

85. Nitric acid or aqua fortis. 

86. Aerated waters and lemonades. 

87. Steel, bronze, brass, pewter, copper, tin, pure or alloyed, lead, 
nickel, and zinc, in ingots, bars, rods, or plates, whether perforated 
or not. 

88. Orange-flower water. 

89. Spirits of turpentine. 

90. Knitting needles of steel, wood, bone, caoutchouc, or other 
similar material. 


91. Cotton. 

92. Spike lavender. 

93. Alum in lumps. 

94. English yellow or chromate of lead, minium litharge, mineral 
manganese, white lead and carbonate of lead, asbestine. 

95. Stuffed animals. 

96. Advertisements of medicinal or other industrial products, in 
the shape of almanacs. 

97. Apparatus for filtering water; telephonic apparatus and adjuncts, 
as transmitters, plugs, ringing keys, carbons, and covered copper 
wire. 

98. Harness and. horse collars for use with all kinds of coaches, 
calashes, “ quitrins, v omnibuses, phaetons, and*all kinds of cars, wag¬ 
ons, and carts. 

99. Ground rice, sago, salep, tapioca, and crushed maize. 

100. Brown sugar, and the burnt sugar used by brewers. 

101. Sulphur, flowers or paste of. 

102. Scales, Roman balances with their weights, except those of cop¬ 
per, or in which copper predominates. 

103. “ Barba de palo,” and Spanish rush fiber. 

104. Barrels, pipes, and hogsheads, put together or not, and staves 
imported separately. 

105. Wimbles and augurs for perforating stones and trunks. 

106. Pottery, glazed or not, in any form not otherwise mentioned. 

107. Zinc, white and white bole. 

108. Canes, reeds, rushes, palm, straw, not otherwise mentioned, 
and ozier, not worked, for the manufacture of brooms. 

109. Sporting shots and bullets. 


TARIFF LAW. 


373 


110. Cables, rigging* and cordage. 

111. Bowls for tobacco pipes and common clay and faience pipes 
not combined with any other material. 

112. Cannon of all kinds. 

113. Beans of all kinds, chick-pease, lentils, Spanish beans, and all 
kinds of pulse, garden produce, and alimentary roots, unprepared. 

111. Cloth, unbleached and coarse cloth called u coleta,' 1 unbleached 
No. 3, common packing cloth, generally employed for cacao and coffee 
sacks and for packing, the color of which, naturally dark, has not 
been changed by a preparation intended to bleach them, even when 
with colored stripes and checks. 

115. Charcoal in powder, boneblack, and lampblack. 

116. Meat salted in brine, or smoked hams or shoulders not in tins, 
bacon and tongues, with the exception of jerked-meat u tasajo,” the 
importation of which is prohibited. 

117. Packing cloth lined with paper, line pasteboard or thick office 
paper for visiting cards and other purposes, including waterproof 
paper for presses. 

118. Chloride of lime and cyanide of potash. 

119. Sieves of iron wire. 


120. Hair grass and similar vegetable fibers. 

121. Wax for shoemakers. 

122. Beer and cider. 

123. Creoline and all disinfectants, liquid or in powder. 

121. Copper—old and scrap. 

125. Portable kitchens of iron or other materials. 

126. Hearses, including the lanterns, feathers, plumes, and all other 
accessories thereto, even when subject separately to higher duties, 
provided they be imported together with the hearses in the same or 
in another package. 

127. Chalk—white or red, in lumps or in powder. 

128. Crucibles of all kinds. 


129. Pickles in vinegar, except olives and capers. 

130. Juniper berries. 

131. Emery in lumps or powder. 

132. Esparto—raw. 

133. Fuses and quick matches for mines and the lubricating tow for 
putting together machinery. 

131. Copper scupper nails. 

135. Fountains or basins of iron, marble, or any other material, and 
statues, busts, vases, and urns, of marble, alabaster, granite, or other 


similar stones. 

136. Sago flour. 

137. Biscuits of all kinds without any sugar. 

138. Fluid gas and orozus. 


374 


VENEZUELA. 


139. Gum arabic. 

140. Wheat flour and semoline prepared for making vermicelli, 
crushed wheat, and oatmeal. 

141. Tools and instruments, such as hammers, sledge hammers, 
hatchets, capstans, forges, bellows of all kinds, cranes, u mollejones,” 
large screws for blacksmiths, bickerns, anvils, and other similar tools 
and instruments. 

142. Manufactures of iron: Wire and wire netting for mattresses; 
anchors and chains for vessels; safes; mortars; furniture; copying 
presses and machines for stamping paper; nails; tacks; hobnails; 
rivets and scupper nails; buildings not erected, or separate parts 
thereof, such as balconies, doors, balustrades, gratings, columns; roofs, 
even when imported separately; statues, urns, flowerpots, busts, and 
all other similar ornaments for houses or gardens; weights for scales; 
flatirons; posts for fences; stoves; boilers; “budares” kettles; broil¬ 
ers; pots; frying pans, and other household utensils, tinned or not, 
with the exception of similar articles of sheet iron and tin plate, which 
pay duty according to Class IV. Galvanized iron nails and washers 
are also included in this third class. 

143. Tinned plate and sheets of tinned paper used for lining trunks. 

144. Bones, horns, and hoofs not manufactured. 

144. Cotton, Holland cloth, blue. 

146. To 3 t s of all kinds and of whatever material, including marbles. 

147. Printed books, unbound or bound in paper, not comprised in 
Class 1; pamphlets, copy books, and books intended for primary 
instruction, imported simply stitched or bound in cloth. 

148. Sandpaper on paper or linen. 

149. Linseed or linseed meal and colza seed. 


150. Flax, raw. 

151. Earthenware, common and faience, glazed or not, in articles of 
all forms, not mentioned in other classes. 

152. Walnut wood. 

153. Wood, fine, for musical instruments, cabinetwork, etc. 

154. Wood in fine sheets for veneering. 

155. Wood, sawn, planed, or dovetailed. 

156. Lard and butter. 

157. Machines, reservoirs of galvanized iron, and apparatus not 
otherwise mentioned and not exceeding 1,000 kilograms in weight. 
When machines are imported with extra pieces, which taken separate^ 
are subject to a higher duty, the whole will be dutiable as machines 
when such pieces arrive in the same package. 

158. Mills of all kinds not specified in Class 1. 

159. Ore of iron, copper, and tin, black lead, and asbestos. 

160. Potatoes of all classes and sizes. 

\ 

161. Paper of all kinds, not otherwise mentioned, and serpentines 


TARIFF LAW. 


375 


or paper ribbons; perforated paper, white or colored, used in carnival 
sports; white tissue paper in sheets 49 centimeters long b} r 36 wide, 
used to make press-copy books. 

162. Fish, pressed, salted, or smoked, not in tins. 

163. Lithographic stones; pumice stones; stones of all kinds, and 
forms for grinding or whetting; fireproof stones for blast furnaces; 


filtering and other similar stones. 

164. Colors, common, prepared in oil. 

165. Pianos, even silent. 

166. Saltpeter, niter, and common calcined potash. 

167. Leeches. 

168. Sardines, pressed in oil with tomatoes or prepared in any other 
manner. 

169. Tallow, prepared for the manufacture of stearin candles or 
stearin. 

170. Soda, common or calcined. 

171. Carbonate of soda, crystallized. 

172. Sulphate of iron or green copperas. 

173. Sulphate of copper or bluestone. 

174. Iron-wire netting, not otherwise mentioned, and wire hooks. 

175. Turpentine, common or of Venice, and paste or extract of 
logwood. 


176. Poison, for preserving skins. 

177. Glass plates not silvered, white or colored. 

178. Vinegar, common and empyreumatic, and brandy from the 
residues of pressed grapes. 

179. Wines of all kinds, in casks, pipes, or barrels, except when 
medicinal. 

180. Coffee winnowers. 

181. Sumac, powdered or not. 


Class IV. —Duty 75 centimos of a bolivar (If If cents) per kilogram. 


182. Linseed oil. 

183. Fish oil, other than cod, and cotton-seed oil, sesame oil, and 
almond oil. 


184. Palm oil and painters’ or sicative oil. 

185. Olives, capers of all kinds. 

186. Oil and vinegar cruets and castors, not having any part of gold 
or silver, which come under Class VIII, or those of German silver, of 


gilt or silvered, which arc comprised in Class VI. 

187. Steel, iron, copper, brass, tin, tin plate, bell metal, bronze, 
lead, pewter, zinc, and nickel, however manufactured, not otherwise 
mentioned, whether polished, varnished, stained, or bronzed or not, 


and furnaces 


for the manufacture of sugar. 


VENEZUELA. 


370 


188. Metallic wire manufactured in frames for wigs, bird cages, 
racks for clothes or hats, and other similar articles, also frames for 
parasols and umbrellas. 

189. Almonds, hazelnuts, nuts, peanuts, chestnuts, and all other 
dried fruits with shells, not specified. 

190. Stills and all similar apparatus. 

191. Siegert’s bitters. 

192. Beneseed, canary seed, and millet. 

193. Aniseed, canary seed, Ceylon and Chinese cinnamon, garlic, 
cumin, origan, pepper, and other kinds of spices, for seasoning. 

191. Chandeliers, globes, shades, candelabra, candlesticks, beacons, 
street lamps, lamps, lanterns, hanging lamps, etc., except those orna¬ 
mented with gold or silver which are included in Class VIII, and 
those of German silver or gilt or silvered which are taxed according 
to Class VI. Accessories thereof imported with the above-mentioned 
articles shall pay duty according to the class to which the} r belong. 

195. Christmas trees. 

196. Jet, not manufactured. 

187. Sugar, white or refined. 

198. Scales, Roman balances and copper weights, or in which copper 
predominates, including weights even of iron when imported together 
with the scales. 

199. Wooden troughs or buckets, and tubs. 

200. Billiard-table cushions, and bands or belts of coarse oilcloth for 
steam engines. 

201. Bagatelle tables with all their accessories. 

202. Felt for hats, not fulled, hair for hats, paper wrappers, leather 
hatbands, linings, plushes, peaks for capes and kepis, ribbon of silk or 
cotton when it comes in pieces of not more than 80 millimeters in 
width, and other articles used exclusively in the manufacture of hats, 
such as oilcloth prepared with gum-lac dissolved in alcohol, employed 
in the manufacture of black felt hats, and solutions of said gum in 
alcohol, and wool, or silk cord used in the same manufacture. 

203. Shoe blacking and bituminous oil for blacking and softening 
harness. 

204. Billiard tables with all their accessories, including the balls and 
cloth covers when imported together with the tables. 

205. Armenian and lees of oil and lard and all other fattv substances. 

206. Boxes of wood, even imported in pieces, i. <?., in boards for 
making same, and china water-closets, with their metal connections 
and other appurtenances. 

207. Baskets, large or small, hand baskets, small carriages for chil¬ 
dren, and other articles of osier and wickerwork, including children’s 
carriages, whatever may be the material from which made; cotton canvas 


TARIFF LAW, 


877 


covered with paper, for the manufacture of envelopes, and tissue 
coated with sulphate of copper. 

208. Pasteboard manufactured or prepared for boxes, large and 
small, or in any other form, excepting for toys, masks, and playing 
cards. Blank visiting cards of anvsize are also included in this class. 

209. Barley, husked or ground. 

210. Sneezeroot. 

211. Capsules for bottles. 

212. Brushes, common, horse brushes, and those of horn or whale¬ 
bone, for scrubbing. 

218. Wax, vegetable, black or yellow, unprepared. 

214. Bristles, and horsehair, and haircloth, used for keeping clothing 
in shape. 

215. Wooden horses, or carousels. 

21G. Glue, common, in paste or liquid, and collodion for photog¬ 
raphers. 

21T. Linen, unbleached, and cloth called u coleta,’ 1 unbleached, No. 
2, coarse cloth of the same name as that comprised in No. 119 of Class 
III, but which has been more or less bleached, and also “cotoniaA 

218. Pointed knives, common, with or without sheaths, knives with 
handles of wood or other common material, for fishermen, large steel 
knives, and machetes, and knives used in the arts and trades. 

219. Varnishes of all kinds. 

220. Caoutchouc made into tube or pipes, and in sheets or bands for 
machine belting, and in the shape of washers and rings, with linen 
inside. 

221. Oilcloth for floors, packing, and roofing. 

222. Mirrors of all kinds and plate glass silvered. 

228. Spermaceti and paraffin. 

224. Sea foam, a substance used in the manufacture of bread and 
baking powders. 

225. Mats, large and small, and matting for floors. 

226. Table mats. 

227. Figures, ornaments, and articles of all kinds used in putting up 
confectionery, also gilt paper bags or cornucopias, finished or partly 
finished, imported for the above purpose. Should the receptacles 
referred to be covered with silk or velvet, or ornamented with flowers 
or other articles liable to higher duties, they shall, unless completely 
filled with sweetmeats, be placed under Class VI as fancy articles. 

228. Door mats not otherwise mentioned. 

229. Dried fruits. 

230. Fruits in brandy, sirup, or in their juice. 

231. Saddletrees. 

232. Artificial flowers of porcelain. 


378 


VENEZUELA. 


233. Biscuits or crackers in the preparation of which sugar is 
employed. 

234. Gasoline and benzine or naphtha. 

235. Gelatin of all kinds. 

236. Potato, maize, and rye Hour. 

237. Shoemakers’ thread and hemp rope for halters with core of 
tow, and iron buckles, whether tin, nickel, or bronze plaited, for 
harnesses. 

238. Coarse thread of hemp, and twisted lines or twine of the same 
material, for fishing. 

239. Twine or cord. 

240. Tin plate or sheet iron manufactured into articles not specified 
and iron utensils for domestic use when they have lids or covers of tin 
or brass. 


241. Incense. 

212. Tools used in the arts and trades, with or without handles, such 
as pinchers, gravers, compasses, gimlets, trowels, chisels of all kinds 
for carpenters, levels, gauges, jack planes, awls, files, hammers, saws, 
tongs and pinchers, lathes, and vises. 

213. Colored chalk for tailors. 

244. Sirups of all kinds other than medicinal, confectionery of all 
kinds, sugar candy, and flavored rice flour employed for sweets. 

245. Sealing wax in cakes or sticks and well cement. 

246. Raw wool and sailcloth of hemp or cotton, unbleached. 

247. Condensed milk. 

248. Books, printed and bound, except those mentioned in Class 
VIII. 

249. Crockery, in imitation of porcelain. 

250. Porcelain and china in any way not specified. 

251. Hops. 

252. Wood manufactured into articles not otherwise mentioned. 

253. Manigraphs. 

254. Furniture of iron and wood. 

255. Marble, jasper, alabaster, granite, and other similar stones, 
wrought or polished in articles not otherwise mentioned. 

256. Maizena. 

257. Wicks and twists for lamps and chimney cleaners. 

258. Mustard in the grain or in powder. 

259. Furniture of common wood, osier, and straw or cane. 

260. Organs and all kinds of parts thereof imported separately. 

261. Ostein and oleomargarine. 

262. Wood in strips for making matches. 

263. Wooden colts covered with flax. 

264. Paste or mastic for polishing and that used for the tips of bil¬ 
liard cues. 


TARIFF LAW. 


379 


265. 

266. 

stone, 


26 


i. 


ing on 
of the 
268. 
in the 


"W all paper, including black and albuminated paper. 
Composition imitating porcelain, marble, granite, or any tine 
in all kinds of articles, except toys for children. 

Paper for cigarettes not otherwise mentioned, even when bear- 
it, printed or lithographed, the name of the manufacturer, or 
manufacture, for whose use it was made. 

Flints, touchstones, polishing and similar stones not included 
other classes. 


269. Hides, neither tanned nor prepared. 

270. Shovels made altogether of wood. 

271. Solders. 

272. Leather tips for billiard cues. 

273. Cheese of all kinds. 

274. Sacks—empty, of canvas, unbleached, and thick linen or other 
similar fabrics. 

275. Sausages, hams in cans, fish in cans, alimentary preserves, 
mushrooms, dried or in sauce; lacteous flour and all other similar 
foods, prepared or not prepared, not included in the preceding classes, 
such as Buitoni’s agglutinated paste. 

276. Sauces of all kinds and pickles in mustard. 

277. Tallow—raw, rendered or pressed, and ordinary fats of all 
kinds for making soap. 

278. Siphons and machines for aerated waters. 

279. Sole leather, dyed or not, unmanufactured, and hempen soles 
for sandals. 

280. Piano stools of whatever material. 

281. Talc in sheets or in powder. 

282. Horsehair or bristles for fishing rods. 

283. Meat covers of wire gauze. 

284. Stoppers with heads of metal, glass, crystal, or porcelain. 

285. Fabrics of cotton, hemp, esparto, or flax for floor coverings, 
even when mixed with a small quantity of wool, and haircloth for 
furniture. 

286. Canvas prepared for oil paintings and stumps for drawing. 

287. Cloth—common, of hemp, flax, or cotton, for furniture, in 
bands, or any other form, and cotton dishcloths for domestic use, and 
straw ribbon for packing. * 

288. Wooden heels, shod or not with copper or iron. 

289. Strips of tinned stuff or paper for shoemakers of 1 centimeter 
in width and 12 centimeters in length. 

290. Bootjacks and corkscrews. 

291. Chalk in sticks, lumps, or other form for billiard rooms. 

292. Shades and blinds for doors and windows. 

293. Firecrakers, called “ triquitraques,” and the fuses for rockets. 

294. Rubber tubes and hose and bands for machinery. 


VENEZUELA. 


380 


295. Sails of coarse twilled cloth for vessels. 

296. Tallow candles. 

297. Bicycles, or velicipedes. 

298. Glass and crystal, manufactured, in any form not elsewhere 
mentioned. 

299. Wines of whatever description, when imported in demijohns or 
bottles, excepting medicinal wines. 

300. Articles of gypsum of all kinds,, excepting toys. 

Class V. — Duty 1.25 bolivars (2b. 1 cents) per kilogram. 


301. Cod-liver oil, tartago oil, medicinal oils, and all other oils not 


specified. 

302. Perfumed oils and soaps. 

303. Arsenic. 

304. Tartaric acid in powder. 

305. Liquid ammonia. 

306. Toilet waters and hair wash such as a florilina ,, and the like, 
and waters for cleaning metals. 

307. Spirits of all kinds, brandy or cognac and its essences, absinth, 
gin and its essences up to 22° Cartier; above 22° they shall pay pro¬ 
portionally; bitters not otherwise specified, such as the elixir bitter 
of coca, are included in this class. 

308. Peeled almonds. 

309. Apparatus for measuring hats. 

310. Photographic apparatus and implements used for making same, 
not included in other classes. 

311. Shapes of gummed stuff for hats and caps. 

312. Rings and buckles covered with leather. 

313. Strops and fine stones for sharpening razors, and razor paste. 

314. Saffron. 

315. Quicksilver. 

316. Trunks, traveling sacks, bags, valises, and portmanteaus of all 


kinds. 

317. Skins for carrying wine and purses and small bags of oilcloth 
for grain samples. 

318. Trusses, bandages, bougies or probes, supporters, lint, strain¬ 
ers or filters, sucking bottles and nipples, cupping glasses, anodyne 
necklaces, spatulas, lancets, retorts, clysters, syringes of all kinds, and 
siphons not otherwise mentioned. 

319. “Bramante,” “brin” ticks, drills, domestic cloth, u liencillo,” 
u platilla,” u warandol ” or Irish linen, and all other unbleached simi¬ 
lar cloths, even if they have colored lines or flowers, and Holland linen, 
black or blue. 

320. Paint brushes of all kinds. 

321. Hat cases of leather. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



MUNICIPAL THEATER, CARACAS. 
(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 









































TARIFF LAW. 


381 


322. Almanacs of all kinds. 

323. Camera obscura or camera lucid, for drawing or photography, 
and other similar apparatus. 

321. Cotton canvas for embroidering, and canvas of unbleached 
thread, similar to the light tissues used for mosquito nets. 

325. Capsules, sacks or bags of paper, of all kinds and sizes, with or 
without inscriptions, for pharmaceutical purposes. 

326. Tortoise shell, crude. 

327. Homespun linen, white “coleta," “ lienzo de rosa,” camel’s 
back, cotton cretonne, and linen unbleached German cretonne, Nos. 9, 
10, and 11, striped or checked crehuela, colored or not, and all other 
similar cloth not mentioned in other classes. 

328. Sieves of copper wire, of leather, wood, or horsehair. 

329. Brushes for the teeth, hair, and clothes, and all others, except 
those included in the fourth class. 

330. White wax, pure or mixed, not wrought, and mineral wax. 

331. Bristles for shoemakers. 


332. Fish glue and liquid glue for shoemakers. 

333. Colors and paints not otherwise mentioned, such as bluing, 
ultramarine, and “kalsomine” earth of several colors, and paints pre¬ 
pared with oil to be used for enamel. 

33-1. Cork in sheets, stoppers, and in any other shape. 

335. Shoe strings, ordinary cotton braids for sandals, and all other 
linen or cotton shoe strings and cord, twisted or untwisted, provided 
that they consist of ten or more threads. 

336. Amethyst quartz. 

337. Cubebs. 

338. Penknives, razors, scissors, and u jackknives,” table knives and 
forks, except those which have gilt or silver handles, which belong to 
to the VIII Class, and those gilt or silvered, which are included in 


Class VI. 

339. Cords and “ entorchados.” 

340. Beer, concentrated or pectonized. 

341. Sassafras and all other medicinal barks. 

342. Cotton drills, white or colored, and cotton flannel, white or 
colored; also cotton drill called “ casinette, 11 and cotton batiste and 
the fulled cloth used for towels, bath, or hand. 

343. Drugs, medicines, and chemical products not otherwise men¬ 
tioned; also all vermifuges or medicinal articles or substances, such as 
bicarbonate of soda, beef wine, Bisteri cinchona wine, cardamom seeds 
and plants, and all patent medicines, drugs, and chemical products not 
specilied elsewhere, and dynamite. 

344. Oilcloth of all kinds not otherwise mentioned, except those 
used for flooring, packing, or rooting, included in Class IV. 

345. Cotton buckram. 


VENEZUELA. 


QQO 
O <u i j 


846. Brooms, large and small, and horsehair brooms. 

847. Essences and extracts of all kinds not otherwise mentioned. 

348. Sponges. 

349. Stereoscopes, cosmoramas, dioramas, panoramas, magic lan¬ 
terns, phonographs, graphophones, and other similar apparatus. 

350. Paper lanterns, paper collars, fronts, and cuffs, including those 
lined with cloth, and manufactured paper not otherwise mentioned. 

351. Foils, masks, breastplates, and fencing gloves. 

352. Matches of all kinds, not specified, and match stud' in paste. 

853. Photographs. 

354. Cotton blankets. 

355. Woolen blankets, white, or with colored fringes, and dark 
blankets of the material called “cabrin.” 

356. Gum lac, copal, and all kinds of gums and resins not otherwise 
mentioned. 

357. Horsehair gloves, and fencing gloves. 

358. Glycerin. 

359. Ordinary sewing thread, untwisted thread for embroidering, 
and thread of one end for weaving. 

360. Loadstone. 

361. Images and statues other than those of gold or silver, and 
mechanical manikins of life size. 

362. Musical instruments and boxes, and all accessories thereof, 
excepting organs and pianos. 

363. Surgical, dental, anatomical, mathematical, and other scientific 
instruments not elsewhere mentioned. 

364. Soap, white, marbled, called “Castillo” or “Marseilles.” 

365. Soap, common, soap in powder, and rock salt for animals. 

366. Sets of chessmen, draughts, dominos, roulette, and similar 
games, and playing cards of all sorts. 

367. Pictures and engravings on paper. 

368. Blank books, crayons and charcoal pencils for drawing, note¬ 
books and portfolios, lithographed receipt and check books pencils of 
all kinds, except slate pencils, rubber erasers, seals and stamps for 
letters, writing ink and ink powder, paper cutters, pencil cases, seal¬ 
ing wax and wafers, sand, steel pens, penholders, inkstands, and all 
other stationery articles, with the exception of envelopes and articles 
containing gold and silver. 

369. Books containing gold or silver leaf, whether real or imitation, 
for gilding or silvering; bronze in powder and books for bronzing. 

370. Liquor stands, empty or with liquor. 

371. “ Liencillo,” “brin,” and domestic cloth, bleached or 
unbleached, linen or cotton. 

372. Iron filings. 

373. Striped cloth, “arabias,” ginghams of linen or cotton, common, 


TARIFF LAW. 


383 


that is, such as have only thirteen strands in the warp or woof of each 
square of 5 millimeters. 

374. Wooden battens, moldings, and cornices, painted, varnished,, 
gilt or silvered, and wooden curtain loop holders. 

375. Colored cotton duck, and linen, cotton, or woolen straps, from 
7 to 15 centimeters wide, for saddle girths and upper girths. 

376. Liqueurs, or cordials, such as cherry cordial, creams of vanilla, 
cocoa, and the like. 

377. Madapolan, Hollands, Brittany, domestic, sheeting, Irish, 
white or colored, cretonne, “elefante,” “ platilla,” u liencillo, 11 Rouen, 
calico, “ savage 11 of cotton, and other similar white cotton goods. 

378. Picture frames of any material, with or without glasses, pic¬ 
tures, plates, or engravings. 

379. Masks of all kinds. 

380. Macaroni, u tallarines,” vermicelli, and other similar soup 


381. Tape measures of leather, linen, or paper, with or without cases. 

382. Furniture of tine wood, such as rosewood, mahogany, and wal¬ 
nut, and that with backs and seats upholstered with horsehair, wool, 
cotton, or silk, furniture of common gilt wood, and coffins of all sorts. 

383. Gallnuts, nutmegs, and mace. 

384. Screens of paper, metal, or tissue. 

385. Gum pastilles or drops. 

386. Perfumery of all kinds, and perfumed books of a papier 
poudre. ” 

387. Parchment and imitations of the same, in articles not otherwise 
mentioned, cloth only used for bookbinding, and waterproof cloth of 
caoutchouc and cotton used for blankets and winter overcoats, and 
cotton felt for lithographic machines. 

388. Aerometers of all kinds and alcoholometers. 

389. Paintings, chromos, drawings, and portraits on canvas, wood, 
paper, stone, or other materials; lithographed advertisements applied 
on cardboard, and cards with colored landscapes or figures, used in 
baptismal festivities. 

390. Tissue paper and writing paper when bearing something printed, 
even if imported for private use. 

391. Bottle and glass stands. 

392. Gunpowder. 

393. Tobacco, cut for cigarettes. This article shall pa}^ the addi¬ 
tional duty of 2 bolivars per kilo. 

394. Tannin. 

395. Tea and vanilla. 

396. Indian ink, hair dyes, and all other inks not specified. 

397. Candles of spermaceti, paraffin, composition, or stearin, and 
twisted wicks for the same. 


384 


VENEZUELA. 


398. Dowlas warandol, unbleached, of linen or cotton, even with 
colored stripes or flowers, also that with a lead-gray or light-yellow 
ground. 

399. Tinder boxes and flints or wicks for tinder boxes. 

Class VI.— Duty 2.50 bolivars {J+8.2 cents) per kilogram. 

400. Bugles and beads of glass, porcelain, steel, wood, or of any 
other material excepting gold and silver; coffin ornaments; fancy arti¬ 
cles of glass or porcelain mounted in gilt or silvered metal; artificial 
plants of caoutchouc, paper, or tissue, representing palms, begonias, 
and large leaves; and sweetmeat boxes covered with silk or velvet, or 
ornamented with flowers or other articles liable to higher duties than 
those levied under Class IV. 

401. Steel hoops for crinolines or bustles, covered or not with tissue. 

402. Damasks, drills, Brittany cloth, unbleached cloth, 44 bramante,” 
ticks, dowlas, excepting unbleached German dowlas Nos. 9, 10, and 11, 
specified in Class Y, 44 estopilla,” 44 estrepe,” 44 garantido," Irish linen, 
44 florete,” 44 platilla," Rouen, calico, white or dyed dowlas, warandol 
of linen, pure or mixed with cotton, and any other similar goods of 
linen or linen mixed with cotton. 

403. Pins, needles, eyelets, hooks and eyes, clasps for clothes and. 
shoes, zinc clasps for shoes, buckles for hats, waistcoats, trousers, and 
shoes, except those of gold or silver. 

404. Carpets in the piece or rugs. 

405. Undershirts, scarfs, bonnets, socks, drawers, trousers, stock¬ 
ings, and underwaists, of cotton, knitted, and like tissues. Under¬ 
shirts with collars and culls, or fitted for same, shall pay 50 per cent 
additional. 

406. Field glasses, spectacles, opera glasses, telescopes, eyeglasses, 
lenses, microscopes, except those of gold or silver, including glasses 
and lens, etc., imported separately. 

407. Whalebone and its imitations. 

408. Chamois and tanned skins, not manufactured, except the white 
or colored sole leather, which belongs to Class IV. 

409. Barometers, hygrometers, chronometers, thermometers, sex¬ 
tants, octants, and other similar instruments, and compasses of all 
classes. 

410. Canes, whips, and slung shots, with the exception of sword 
sticks or sticks containing a mechanism for filing, which are included 
in Class VII. 

411. Buttons of all kinds, excepting those of silk, silver, or gold. 

412. Baize and ratteens, in piece or plaids, and blankets made of 
these materials. 

413. Bowls for pipes, cigar holders and pipes, of amber, porcelain, 


TARIFF LAW. 


385 


and any other material, except tho.se of gold or silver and those 
mentioned in Class III. 

414. Shaving boxes with accessories, work and traveling cases. 

415. Shells, loose, or made up into ornaments. 

416. Pocketbooks, cigar and cigarette cases, cardcases, purses, 
tobacco pouches, spectacle cases, match boxes, albums, not covered 
with velvet, nor gilt, nor silvered, and all other similar articles, 
except those which have gold or silver. 

417. Wax, manufactured into articles of all kinds, except toys. 

418. Counterpanes, sheets, plaids, hammocks, table covers, of linen 
or cotton. 

419. Elastic for shoes. 

420. Coral in articles of all kinds, except when set in gold or silver. 

421. Funeral wreaths and other funeral articles. 

422. Thin cord, white, linen or cotton, twisted or untwisted, of less 
than ten threads, and also twisted linen in the shape of cord, such as 
binding or sail thread, which can not, on account of its elasticity, be 
assimilated to cord or be used in the manufacture of hand or machine 
made fabrics. 

423. Crinolines, bustles, and similar articles, and caoutchouc dress 
shields covered or not, used inside of ladies’ clothing. 

424. Knives and forks with German or white metal, or silvered or 
gilt handles. 

425. Mattresses, pillows, paillasses, and cushions, except those of 
silk; feathers for stuffing them, and woven-wire mattresses. 

426. Cotton ropes for hammocks. 

427. Damask, “coqui,” bombazine, “bordon,” padding, ticking, 
“mahon,” nankeen, light nankeen, “estrepe,” quilting sateen, “tan- 
gep,” or stiff muslin, of cotton, white or colored, and other similar 
cotton tissues not mentioned in the other classes. 

428. Thimbles, not of gold or silver, and artificial teeth and eyes. 

429. Skirts, petticoats, dressing gowns, nightdresses, and dresses of 
cotton, made up or in patterns, and cotton goods in patterns for petti¬ 
coats, with or without embroidered bands. 

430. Articles of German or white metal or its imitations, such as 
trays, dishes, curbs, bits, muzzles, spurs, stirrups, hinges, buckles, 
chandeliers, lamps, candelabra, and other similar articles. 

431. Articles of iron and other similar metals, gilt or silvered, with 
the exception of stationery, which shall always be included in Class V, 
even when gilt or silvered. 

432. Yarns, worsted, raw, and of goats’ hair. 

433. Cases containing small articles of steel, copper, or other 
metals, for embroidering, cleaning the teeth and nails, and for draw¬ 
ings and paintings. 

4a—01-25 


386 


VENEZUELA. 


434. Brooms and brashes of palms, rushes, or other vegetable 
fibers. 

435. Felt in pieces for saddle cloths. 

436. Blankets or quilts of pure wool or wool mixed with cotton, 
and with ground of one or more colors, and counterpanes, of wool or 
wool mixed with cotton, also colored. 

437. Goods for slippers, excepting of silk. 

438. Elastic for shoes. 

439. Gutta-percha, manufactured or not, and rubber shoes. 

440. Imitation gold or silver thread, thin wire, spangles, tinsel, leaf, 
foil, galloons, trimmings, small wares, and other articles of imitation 
gold and silver, for embroidering or sewing. 

441. Bone, ivory, mother-of-pearl, real and imitation jet, real and 
imitation tortoise shell, caoutchouc, india rubber, sheets of celluloid, 
horn and talc, manufactured in articles of all kinds not otherwise 
mentioned, with the exception of children’s toys comprised in Class 
III, and those combined with gold and silver, which are included in 
Class VIII. 

442. Table cloths, towels, and napkins of all classes. 

443. Sheeting of pure linen or of linen mixed with cotton. 

444. Clock and watch hands, keys, springs, spirals, and other parts 
of watch and clock movements, excepting those of gold and silver. 

445. Wicks and cotton slightly spun for wicks. 

446. Cotton handkerchiefs, when not more than one meter long. 

447. Paper, gilt or silvered, paper stamped in relief, and colored 
paper for artificial flowers. 

448. Umbrellas, sunshades, and parasols, of wool, linen, or cotton. 

449. Imitation pearls and stones, not set, or set in any metal except 
gold or silver. 

450. Rice and other toilet powder, such as Persian shell calcined. 
Powder puffs also belong to this class. 

451. White metal or German silver, in articles of all kinds not 
specified. 

452. Goose quills prepared as toothpicks. 

453. Feather dusters. 

454. Imitation jewelry. 

455. Table or wall clocks, alarm clocks, water clocks, hourglasses, 
and all other clocks v except tower clocks imported by the Federal 
Government for public use, belonging to other classes. 

456. Hats, caps, hat frames and bonnets, of straw, or its imitations, 
not trimmed. 

457. Patent leather, not manufactured. 

458. Chewing tobacco, in paste or twisted, and cigarette paper 
whether in bobbins or in the form of Egyptian cigars. 


TARIFF LAW. 387 

459. u Dowlas ,’ 1 warandol, white or of linen, or of linen mixed with 
cotton. 

460. Chintz, nainsook, calicoes, cretonnes, carlancanes, paper cam¬ 
brics, fine French striped cloth, and other fine tissues, which have 
more than thirteen threads in the woof in a square of 5 millimeters, 
poplins, “malvinas,” Japanese cloth, lustrines, colored percales, and 
any other cotton cloths, colored, similar to the above, and not other¬ 
wise mentioned under different classes, such as cotton merinos and 
colored canton flannel. 

Class VII.— Duty 5 bolivars {96.5 cents) per hiloyram. 

46 1. Fans of all kinds. 

462. Opera cloaks, of wool, or wool mixed with cotton. 

463. Undershirts, of wool, or wool mixed with cotton. 

464. Sword sticks and sticks with a mechanism for firing. 

465. Purses of linen or cotton. 

466. Stockings, socks, fringes, tassels, laces, ribbons, bands, tapes, 
trimmings, plushes, caps, mantles, capes, waistbands, bows, epaulettes, 
list shoes, gloves of wool or of wool mixed with cotton. 

467. Boots and shoes only cut out or without soles, and rugs of 
sheepskins. 

468. Woven uppers for sandals. 

469. Rugs, carpets, and all other articles of crochet, except those 
of silk. 

470. Chasubles, corporal cases, altar cloths, bands, dalmatics, stoles, 
maniples, chalice covers, and other ecclesiastic vestments and church 
ornaments. 

471. Curtains, hangings, and mosquito nets, of linen or cotton. 

472. Lace, embroidered bands, edgings, ribbons, borders, epaulettes, 
tassels, cords, fringes, scarfs, braids, gloves, and trimmings of linen or 
cotton. 

473. Swords, sabers, daggers, fine hunting knives, blunderbusses, 
pistols, revolvers, guns, muskets, rifles, carbines, and other arms for 
artillery and infantry, including projectiles, percussion caps, gunlocks, 
cartridges, loaded or empty, and everything relating to side or fire 
arms, and compressed-air guns for target practice. 

474. Pyrotechnic or Bengal lights. 

475. Fireworks. 

476. Back cloth for horses, all kinds. 

477. Stockings of linen, or of linen mixed with cotton, and those of 
Scotch twisted yarn. 

478. Shot bags, powderflasks, cap boxes, and game bags. 

479. Muslins, crepons of cotton, colored, lawn, cotton gauze, called 
“rengue,” barege, grenadine, organdy, zephyr, very fine linen cloth, 


388 


VENEZUELA. 


called “claim dulce,” “sueno” tarlatan, “mute,” batiste of Holland, 
cotton batiste, white or colored, plain, worked, transparent, or em¬ 
broidered, in pieces or patterns for dresses, and all other tissues similar 
to the above and not included in other classes. 

480. Muslins and batistes of linen, or of linen mixed with other 
materials, unbleached or colored, in pieces or patterns for clothes. 

481. Cotton velvet, cotton plush and imitation velvet, in pieces or 
ribbons. 

482. Fine and common woolen cloth, cassimere, bassinette, muslin, 
satin, knitted goods, flannel, “lanilla,” bombazine, alpaca, crape, 
merino, serge, lasting, damask, and all other tissues of wool or of 
wool mixed with cotton, not mentioned in other classes, unless made 
up into wearing apparel, which would bring them under Class IX. 

483. Shawls, foulards, and scarfs, large and small, of muslin, lawn, 
knitted goods, or other fine cotton tissues, and tissues made of ramie, 
or of cotton mixed with this fiber. 

484. Handkerchiefs, shawls, table covers, of wool, or of wool mixed 
with cotton, neither ornamented nor embroidered with silk. 

485. Umbrellas, sunshades, and parasols of silk, or of silk mixed 
with wool or cotton. 

486. Skins, tanned, manufactured in any shape, not mentioned in 
other classes. 

487. Guipure or tulle, of cotton or pita, and crape bands for hats. 

488. Saddles, headpieces, gun cases and pistol holsters, reins, girths, 
cruppers, and sheepskin horse covers of all kinds. 

489. Tobacco leaf, and tobacco stalks. 


Class VIII .—Duty 10 bolivars {$1.93) per kilogram. 

490. Ornaments and nets for headdress of all kinds. 

491. Human hair and its imitations, worked or not. 

/ 

492. Shirts, made up, of cotton, without any part of linen. 

493. Cigarettes, of paper or maize leaf. 

494. Neckties, cotton, haircloth, or wool. 

495. Suspenders, corsets, corset covers, garters of all kinds. 

496. Skirts, petticoats, nightdresses, pillowcases, dresses, of linen 
or linen mixed with cotton, except those of batiste or “clarin” lawn, 
of linen or linen mixed with wool, which belong to Class IX. 

497. Flowers and fruits, artificial, not otherwise mentioned, and 
materials for making flowers, with the exception of colored paper, 
comprised in Class VI. 

498. Skin gloves, with the exception of fencing gloves, belonging 
to Class V. 

499. Dutch batiste, light tissue “clarin,” knitted goods, zephyr, 
lawn, tarlatan, muslin, and all other fine linen or cotton tissues made 
up into articles such as frills, ruches, infant capes, skirts, cuffs, chem- 


TARIFF LAW. 889 

isettes, and other similar articles and adornments not mentioned in 
other classes. 

500. Books and albums bound in velvet, silk, mother-of-pearl, tor¬ 
toise shell, ivory, Russian leather, with ornaments gilt or silvered. 

501. Handkerchiefs of linen or linen mixed with cotton. 

502. Book covers imported separately, and removable book covers. 

503. Feathers for hats and bonnets, and other similar uses, and 
hearse plumes, imported separately from the hearses. 

504. Cloths or tissues of all kinds, mixed or embroidered with gold 
or silver, real or imitation, except ecclesiastical articles and ornaments 
which belong to Class VII. 

505. Cloths or tissues, woolen or of wool mixed with cotton, pre¬ 
pared for mosquito nets, hangings, curtains, or other articles not 
enumerated. 

506. Tobacco manufactured and prepared in whatever form, not 
specified. Cigarettes with tobacco wrapping. 

Class IX. — Duty W bolivars ($3.86) per Jcilogram. 

507. Shirts made up of linen and of wool, and those of cotton mixed 
with linen, pants, jackets, blouses, vests, drawers, paletots, sacks, coats, 
and any other piece of clothing made up of linen or cotton, for men, 
not specified. 

508. Collars, bosoms, and cuffs made up of linen or cotton, for men 
and women. 

509. Bag nets (chinchorros) of all kinds. 

510. Placards, show cards, and handbills printed or lithographed. 

511. Cigarrette wrappers. 

512. Shoes and boots of all classes, and tanned skins made up in shoes. 

513. Skirts, petticoats, nightgowns, pillow cases, and dresses of 
batiste or clarin lawn, linen, or of linen mixed with cotton. 

514. Labels of all kinds, printed or lithographed, which are not 
attached to any article, and printed visiting cards, with or without 
colored designs. 

515. Jewels, pearls, precious stones, and fine jewelry, and articles 
wholly or in part of gold and silver, watches of any material, empty 
watch cases, and jewelry cases, even if imported separately. 

516. Cloths (“pano” and “panete”), cassimer, satin, knitted goods, 
flannel, “alepin,” alpaca, “ cambron,” serge, “cubica,” damask of wool, 
or of wool mixed with cotton, made up in men’s clothing. 

517. Silk, pure or mixed with other materials, and tissues of other 
materials mixed with silk. 

518. Envelopes of all kinds, finished or only cut out. 

519. Hats, bonnets, “pavas,” and caps trimmed for women and 
children. 


390 


VENEZUELA. 


520. Hats of black silk plush, with high crowns, and similar hats of 
any material, including opera hats, hats simply cut out, hats of fulled 
felt, and all other kinds of hats, wholly or partially finished, excepting 
those of straw or their imitations. 

521. Advertisement cards (large), printed or lithographed. 

522. Tarlatan, silk, wool, batiste of Holland, light tissue “clarin,” 
zephyr, lawn, muslin, and all other tissues of linen or cotton, made up 
into ladies’ wearing apparel. 

523. Men’s clothing of wool, linen, or cotton, with the exception of 
that mentioned in other classes. 

Art. 2. The customs duties established by this tariff shall be levied 
on the gross weight. 

Art. 3. The following articles shall be admitted free from duty: 

1. Articles imported by order of the Federal Government. 

2. Live animals, with the exception of leeches. 

3. Personal effects brought by foreign public ministers, or by the 
diplomatic agents of the Republic on their return to Venezuela. 

4. Baggage brought by passengers, with the exception of those 
articles which have not been used, or of pieces of furniture, which shall 
pay duty according to its class, even if used, subject, however, to a 
rebate proportionate to the deterioration resulting from use. 

The duty to be levied on unused articles coming with passengers’ 
baggage shall be increased by 20 per cent, and if the articles come 
from the Antilles they shall pay 30 per cent additional. 

5. Ice imported into localities where no ice factories authorized by 
the Government have been established, or where the established ones 
are not in operation; coal; coal used to produce the arc electrical 
light, acetylene gas, and trisulphite of lime. 

6. Fruits and natural products of Colombia imported through the 
Colombian frontier, provided that fruits and natural products of 
Venezuela when similarly imported into Colombia are granted the 
same benefit. 

7. Samples of tissues in small strips, not exceeding 25 kilograms in 
weight, and also of wall paper, not exceeding 50 centimeters in length, 
or of other articles which, owing to their size or other circumstances, 
can not be offered for sale. 

8. Legal gold coin. 

9. Frames ( u almas”), bottoms, or boilers of iron, gridirons, roast¬ 
ers ( u tambores r ), and rollers for pressing cane (“trapiches”), and the 
axles, frames, and pieces thereof. 

10. Plows and plowshares, hoes, spades, sickles, billhooks, and 
scythes, weeding hooks, hatchets, shovels, picks, “tasies,” and cut¬ 
lasses with or without wooden handles, and matchets (common cutlass) 
for lopping. 


TARIFF LAW. 


391 


11. Barbed wire for fences, and also hooks for fastening the same, 
as shown in the illustration accompanying the decree of June 13,1891. 

12. Printing presses and typographical accessories, such as type, 
lines, printing ink, including inks for lithographing, and white print¬ 
ing paper, neither glued nor gummed, and also paper paste for making 
stereotype plates, and alloy of lead and aluminium employed for stereo¬ 
type printing. 

13. Machinery for use in agriculture, mines, weaving, sawmills, and 
foundries, not otherwise mentioned, and extra pieces for repairing 
sugar mills (“trapiches”) and other agricultural machinery. 

Art. 1 . The importation of the following articles is forbidden: 

1. Cocoanut oil. 

2. Starch. 

3. Indigo. 

1 . Cacao. 

5. Coffee. 

6. Molasses and hone} 7 . 

7. Salted jerked meat (“tasajo”). 

8. Salt. 

9. Sarsaparilla root. 

10. Silver, nickel, and copper coins. 

11. Apparatus for coining money, unless imported by the National 
Government. 

Sole paragraph .—Should the Executive Power deem it expedient to 
authorize the importation, through the custom-houses of the Republic, 
of any prohibited article, it shall fix the duty to be levied on such 
article, and report to Congress at its first session. 

Art. 5. The Executive Power may totally or partially prohibit the 
importation of any kinds of tissue, ready-made wearing apparel, hats, 
bonnets, and caps, and debar entry thereof through the custom-houses 
of the Republic, if the industries and manufactories in districts 
producing goods of the above description have, in importance and 
development, reached a sufficient degree to meet the demands of con¬ 
sumption, provided that purchasers do not suffer in consequence of 
such prohibition. 

Art. 6. For the importation of dutiable firearms through the custom¬ 
houses of the Republic, as well as of powder, shot, cartridges, caps, 
primers, flints, saltpeter, and all other explosive materials not men¬ 
tioned in the present law, a special permission or* order from the 
General Government is necessary. 

Sole paragraph .—Arms of precision and all war articles exclusively 
intended for the arsenals can only be imported by the National 
Government. 

Art. 7. For all articles mentioned in the tariff the material from 
which they are made will not be considered, the class under which 


392 


VENEZUELA. 


the} 7 are placed being solely taken into account. Hence trusses, syr¬ 
inges, clyster pumps, toys, masks, spectacles, portfolios, cardcases, and 
all other articles mentioned shall pay the duty of the class to which 
they belong, whatever be the material from which manufactured, 
except when they are partially made of gold or silver, in which case 
they are comprised in Class VIII. 

Art. 8. Packages containing samples of tissue in small pieces or 
samples of wall paper weighing more than 25 kilograms shall, for the 
weight exceeding 25 kilograms, pay the duty stipulated in Class IIJ. 

Art. 9. When goods or products subject to import duties are im¬ 
ported, such goods being unknown in the country and not specified in 
the tariff nor in the latest resolutions of the Department of Finance, 
the importers can state this fact in their manifests and address a peti¬ 
tion to the Government, accompanied by a sample of the goods or 
products, to permit the proper denomination or classification thereof. 
The respective custom-house shall report upon this petition. 

Art. 10. Machines, tools, and other mining apparatus can enjoy the 
exemption from import duties but once for each mining company, 
and the extra parts imported to replace the same shall not enjoy this 
exemption. 

Art. 11. The custom-houses shall not, without previous order from 
the Minister of Finance, authorize the importation free of duty of 
those articles entitled to this privilege only by virtue of existing con¬ 
tracts or special laws. 

Art. 12. Unused foreign articles brought by passengers with their 
baggage shall pay, in addition to the regular duty, a surtax of 20 per 
cent thereon. 

Art. 13. The Executive Power is authorized to increase, decrease, 
or abolish any of the duties of the present tariff leviable on alimentary 
products of primary necessity, subject, however, to reporting to Con¬ 
gress the measures which it deems proper to take. 

Art. II. Should articles be imported in separate parts, whether in 
one or more packages, the duty thereon shall be the same as if they 
were imported in the whole. 

Art. 15. The law of October 10, 1900, and all former Executive 
orders on this subject are hereby repealed. 

Given at the Federal Legislative Palace, Caracas, May 10, 1902. 

Approved, May 19, 1902. 

CORRECTIONS OF ERRORS FOUND IN THE TEXT OF THE LAW OF MAY 
19, 1902, ESTABLISHING THE IMPORT DUTY TARIFF. 


[Gaceta Oficial of June 30, 1902.] 


The Customs Law, edition of which dated June 18 instant was erro¬ 
neous, is ordered to be reprinted. 


MODIFICATIONS OF THE TARIFF. 


393 


The errors detected are as below: 

Goods mentioned under Tariff Nos. 50T, 508, and 509 are not to be 
placed in Class VIII, but in Class IX under Nos. 521, 522, and 523. 
The numeration of items 510 and following is modified accordingly, 
so that these items will become, respectively, Nos. 507, 508, and so on 
up to No. 520. 


MODIFICATIONS OF THE TARIFF. 


[UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA—DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT—DIRECTION OF CUSTOMS 

AND SALT MINES—CARACAS, JULY 29, 1902.] 


Resolved , In exercise of the authority conferred upon the Executive 
Power by article 13 of the import tariff law to diminish an} r classi¬ 
fication under said tariff when unforeseen circumstances should render 
any such alteration necessary, the Second Vice-President, in exercise 
of the National Executive, has resolved: 

That from and after this date, on the importation through the cus¬ 
toms of the Republic of the hereinafter-mentioned articles, they shall 
be placed on the eighth class of the tariff; that is to say: 

Ready-made linen and woolen shirts and those of cotton which have 
an} T part of linen, trousers, jackets, blouses, vests, drawers, coats, 
sacks, frock coats, and all articles of men’s clothing made of linen 
or cotton and not included in other classes. 

Collars, false bosoms, and cuffs of linen or cotton, for men and 
women. 

Fishing nets of all kinds. 


Petticoats, underskirts, pillowcases, chemises of Dutch batiste oi¬ 
lmen clarin, or mixed with cotton. 

Jewels, pearls, fine stones and gems, and articles entirely or partly 
of gold, watches of whatever material they may be, empty watch and 
jewel boxes, although imported apart. 

Silk, whether pure or mixed with any other material, and silk or 
other clothes which contain silk. 

To be communicated to the customs of the Republic for uniformity 
in classification, and to be published. 


ORDINANCE OF DECEMBER 18, 1902, CLASSIFYING FOR DUTY COPPER 

SHEETS EMBOSSED ( U ABOTONADO ”). 

[Gaceta Oficial No. 8722, of December 19, 1902.] 

By virtue of the present ordinance, copper sheets embossed (“abo- 
tonado”), used in the manufacture of cylinders for separating the 
drupes of coffee, are to be included in Class III of the tariff. 


394 


VENEZUELA. 


ORDINANCE DATED JANUARY 30, 1903, RANGING WOOD PAPER UNDER 

CLASS II OF TARIFF. 

[Gaceta Oficial No. 8757, of January 30, 1903.] 

This ordinance provides that wood paper of a havana yellow color, 
and solely used in commerce for wrapping goods, shall be ranged in 
Class II of the tariff by assimilation to packing paper, which it resem¬ 
bles by its nature and application. 

DECREE OF FEBRUARY 16, 1903, LEVYING A WAR TAX ON IMPORTS AND 

EXPORTS. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8771, of February 16, 1903.] 

Article 1. From and after the date of publication of this decree in 
the u Gaceta Oficial ” there shall be levied by the officials appointed 
for the purpose an extraordinary war contribution, as follows: 

1 . Goods of foreign origin shall, on entering, pay a surtax of 30 per 
cent on the import duties applicable thereto according to laws in force. 

2 . The exportation of coffee is subject to a duty of 2 bolivars per 
50 kilograms. 

3. Sweetened cocoa (“ cacao dulce”) of first quality shall pay 16 
bolivars per 50 kilograms, and other kinds of cocoa shall be liable to 6 
bolivars per 50 kilograms. 

4. Oxhides shall pay on exportation 4 bolivars per 46 kilograms, 
and deer and buck skins 5 bolivars per 46 kilograms. 

Art. 2. Customs administrators will deliver to the officials collecting 
the war tax a copy of the statements of liquidations of import duties 
levied on foreign goods. 

Art. 3. On receipt of the liquidations referred to in above article 1 
the officials charged with the collection shall proceed to levy the 
respective 30 per cent. The amount so received, as well as the pro¬ 
ceeds of the tax by this decree imposed on coffee, cocoa, and skins, 
shall be paid over by the aforesaid officials to the General War Com¬ 
missariat at Caracas. 

Art. 4. The Minister of Finance and Public Credit, and also the 
Ministers of War and Marine, are intrusted with the execution of the 
present decree. 


DECISION OF APRIL 14, 1903, CLASSIFYING COMMON COTTON DUCK. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8818, of April 14, 1903.] 

In virtue of the present decision, common cotton duck sized by lime 
process is only to be included in Class IV of the tariff when not con¬ 
taining more than 10 threads in warp or woof in a square of 5 milli¬ 
meters. When such tissue, even sized by lime process, contains more 
than 10 threads, it shall come under Class V of the tariff. 


MODIFICATIONS OF THE TARIFF. 


895 


DECISION DATED APRIL 15, 1903, AS TO IMPORTATION OF ROMAN 

CEMENT. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8819, of April 15,1903.] 

From the date of this decision the customs duty of 5 centimes 
(B. 0.5) applicable on imported Roman cement is abolished. 

DECISION OF APRIL 23, 1903, RELATIVE TO IMPORTATION OF PINE OR 

PITCH-PINE BLOCKS. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8826, of April 23, 1903.] 

From the date of this decision the customs dut} r applicable to 
imported pine and pitch-pine blocks exceeding 25 centimeters in 
thickness is removed. 

ORDINANCE DATED JUNE 1, 1903, CLASSIFYING FOR DUTY CERTAIN 

IMPORTED GOODS. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8859, of June 1, 1903.] 

From and after this date the undermentioned goods when imported 
from abroad through the custom-houses of the Republic shall be class¬ 
ified as follows: 

1. Sardines, whether pressed, preserved in oil, with tomatoes, or 
otherwise prepared, shall be included in Class 11, and pay 10 centimes 
(B. 0.10) per kilogram. 

2. Alimentary preserves shall be ranged in Class III, at the rate of 
25 centimes (B. 0.25) per kilogram. 

3. Surgical instruments for dentists, anatomy, and other sciences, 
patent medicines and chemicals, buckles covered with leather, and 
tooth, hair, clothes, and shoe brushes shall be comprised in Class IV, 
at the rate of 75 centimes (B. 0.75) per kilogram. 

4. Buttons of all kinds, except of silk, silver, or gold, also toilet 
rice powder, shall be dutiable according to Class V, at the rate of 1 
bolivar 25 centimes (B. 1.25) per kilogram. 

5. Fans of all kinds shall be liable to duty under Class VI, at the 
rate of 2 bolivars 50 centimes (B. 2.50) per kilogram. 

ORDINANCE OF JUNE 8 , 1903, ESTABLISHING THE REGIME APPLICABLE 

ON IMPORTATION OF FATTY ACID. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8865, of June 8, 1903.] 

In virtue of this ordinance fatty acid imported through the custom¬ 
houses of the Republic shall, as being a similar product, be dutiable 
as tallow (stearin) prepared for the manufacture of candles under 
Class Ill of tariff. 


396 


VENEZUELA. 


ORDINANCE OF JUNE 13, 1903, DETERMINING THE TARIFF CLASSIFICA¬ 
TION OF PATENT MEDICINES AND CHEMICALS. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8870, of June 13, 1903.] 

This ordinance provides that for a period of forty days, computed 
from the 1st of this month (June), patent medicines and chemicals of 
foreign origin, even though same may be declared in the manifests 
under the name of medicines not specially enumerated or packed 
therewith in the same parcel, shall always be included in Class IV, as 
provided in Ministerial Order of the 1st instant. (See Ch. I above.) 

ORDINANCE OF JUNE 18, 1903, CLASSIFYING PLAITS OR RIBBONS OF 
LINEN, COTTON, OR WOOL COMBINED WITH RUBBER. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8874, of June 18, 1903.] 

In accordance with this ordinance, plaits or ribbons of linen, cotton, 
or wool- combined with rubber for the purpose of giving same elas¬ 
ticity, shall be treated, on importation through custom-houses of the 
Republic, as like plaits or ribbons not combined with rubber. 

ORDINANCE DATED JULY 29, 1903, CLASSIFYING CRUSHED OATS. 

[Gaceta Oficial No. 8909, of July 29, 1903.] 

By virtue of the present ordinance, crushed oats shall be included 
in Class III of the tariff in the same way as wheat and maize under 
like conditions. 

RESOLUTION OF AUGUST 20, 1903, RELATING TO THE CUSTOMS CLASSI¬ 
FICATION OF PATENT MEDICINES. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8928, of August 20, 1903.] 

This resolution provides that in case the articles referred to in the 
resolution dated December 24, 1901, are imported under the denomi¬ 
nation of patent medicines, but do not state same on the containers 
or in accompanying prospectuses, they shall be dutiable according to 
Class V of the tariff as unenumerated medicines. Such products shall, 
however, not be liable to forfeiture until otherwise ordered by the 
Government. 

DECREE OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1903, RELATING TO THE EXPORTATION OF 

CATTLE. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 89G6, of October 3, 1903.] 

Article 1 . An export duty fit the rate of 8 bolivars on every head 
of young cattle such as calves, steers, half-grown cattle, bullocks, and 
heifers weighing less than 200 kilos each. Cattle of greater weight 
shall be free of duty on exportation, with the exception of cows. 


MODIFICATIONS OF THE TARIFF. 


397 


Art. 2. Sterile cows exported abroad shall be dutiable at 20 bolivars 
per head. Exporters are required to obtain from the department of 
finance special permits for each shipment, and their application must 
be accompanied by a receipt from the Bank of Venezuela or its agen¬ 
cies showing that the tax has been duly paid. 

Art. 3. The decrees dated November 26, 1901, and April 13 of this 
year, relating to the exportation of cattle for slaughter are hereby 
repealed. 


RESOLUTION OF SEPTEMBER 28, 1903, IN REFERENCE TO MATCHES. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8961, of September 28, 1903.] 

Matches of all kinds imported through the custom-houses of the 
Republic shall be included in Class VI of the tariff. The new classifi¬ 
cation shall take effect from the date of the present resolution, and 
apply to imports from Europe or the United States for which the con¬ 
sular invoices are dated on or after this date. 


DECISION OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1903, ESTABLISHING THE CLASSIFICATION 
OF CLOTH-RUBBERED CLOTH BANDS FOR LOW-POWER MACHINE 
BELTING. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8974, of October 13, 1903.] 

This decision provides that narrow-rubbered cloth bands for low- 
power machine belting, such as for cigarette-making machines, are 
to be comprised in the fourth class of the tariff when imported from 
abroad. 


RESOLUTION DATED OCTOBER 16, 1903, AS TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF 
PHONOGRAPH CYLINDERS AND ACCESSORIES. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 8977, of October 16, 1903.] 

This resolution provides that “cylinders and accessories for phono¬ 
graphs” imported separately from such apparatus shall be dutiable 
according to Class V of the tariff. 


RESOLUTION OF DECEMBER 12, 1903, ESTABLISHING THE CUSTOMS 
TREATMENT OF “CASUPOS” OR STRAW OR CARDBOARD ENVELOPES 
FOR WRAPPING BOTTLES. 


[Gaceta Oficial, No. 9025, of December 12, 1903.] 

This resolution provides that “casupos” or straw or cardboard 
envelopes for wrapping bottles shall be assessed on importation accord¬ 
ing to the second class of the tariff. 


RESOLUTION DATED DECEMBER 12, 1903, CLASSIFYING FOR DUTY LIGHT 
UNBLEACHED LINEN AND COTTON CLOTH CALLED “SANITAS." 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 9026, of December 14, 1903.] 

By virtue of this resolution “ light unbleached linen and cotton .cloth 
called sanitas” shall be dutiable under Class IV of the tariff. 


398 


VENEZUELA. 


RESOLUTION OF JANUARY 19, 1904, CLASSIFYING CAOUTCHOUC TUBES 

OR HOSE FOR DUTY. 

[Gaceta Oficial, No. 9056, of January 19, 1904.] 

This resolution provides that the caoutchouc tubes or hose classed in 
No. 294 of the tariff in force only include such tubes or hose as are 
adaptable to pumps or hydrants, whether strengthened with stuff or 
not, and having an interior diameter of a centimeter at least. Caout¬ 
chouc tubes or pipes of a smaller diameter, imported with irrigateurs, 
are dutiable, together with the reservoirs of the latter, according to 
Class V, and if imported separately therefrom come under Class VI 
of the tariff (No. 441) as caoutchouc manufactures. 


INDEX TO CHAPTER IX. 


Page. 

Commerce. 273 

Commerce in the sixteenth century. 273 

Commerce in the seventeenth century. 273 

Commerce in the eighteenth century. 273 

Exports of coffee, 1786-1796 (table). 273 

Commerce in the nineteenth century. 274 

Exports of products in 1810 (table). 274 

Commerce in 1831. 274 

Imports and exports, 1831-1842 (table). 274 

Commerce, 1843-1849 . 275 

Navigation law. 275 

Custom-house laws. 275 

Bonuses. 275 

Commerce in 1854-1856. 275 

Commerce in 1858-1860. 275 

Imports and exports, 1843-1860 (table). 276 

Commerce in 1867 (table). 276 

Percentage of exports (table). 276 

Exports, articles and value in 1867 (table) . 276 

Commerce in 1872 (table). 277 

Commerce in 1875. 277 

Imports in 1875 (table). 277 

Exports in 1875 (table). 278 

Weights and values of products, exports, 1875 (table). 278 

Commerce in 1884. 278 

Commerce in 1887-88 (tables). 279 

Coasting trade, 1887-88 (tables). 279 

Distribution of total commerce in 1887-88 (table). 280 

Coffee exports, 1831-1888 (table). 280 

Cacao exports, 1700-1888 (tables). 280 

Tobacco exports, 1831-1887 (table). 280 

Sugar-cane products, 1831-1887*(table). 280 

Cattle, hides, and skins, exports, 1831-1888 (table). 281 

Commerce in 1893. 281 

Commerce in 1896-97. 281 

Exports in 1897 (table). 281 

Exports from New York to Venezuela, 1897 (table). 282 

Caracas district trade in 1897. 283 

Caracas district trade in 1898. 283 

Plans for new branch of agriculture. 284 

Tobacco. 284 

Fruit farming.—.. 284 

Foreign trade- 284 


399 














































400 


VENEZUELA. 


Commerce—Continued. Page. 

La Guaira trade, 1898. 285 

Imports, 1898, 1897 (table). 285 

Coasting trade, 1898, imports (table). 285 

Coasting trade, 1898, exports (table). 285 

Puerto Cabello trade, 1898. 286 

Imports, 1898,1897 (table). 286 

Exports, 1898,1897 (table). 286 

Maracaibo trade, 1898. 286 

Imports. 286 

Exports, general produce, 1898 (table). 287 

Ciudad Bolivar trade, 1898. 287 

Imports, 1898,1897 (table). 288 

Percentage of imports, 1898,1897 (table).•.. 288 

Exports, 1898,1897 (table). 288 

Standing of Venezuelan merchants. 288 

Coffee crop of the world in 1898. 288 

Suggestions to exporters. 289 

Opportunities for American enterprise in 1898. 290 

Imports and exports from 1865 to 1898 (table). 291 

Commerce in 1899. 291 

Caracas district trade in 1899. 291 

Imports. 291 

Exports. 292 

Cotton-goods imports of Venezuela, 1899,1898 (table). 293 

La Guaira trade, 1899 . 293 

Exports. 293 

Imports. 293 

Importation, with nationality of vessels, 1899 (table). 294 

Exportation, with nationality of vessels, 1899 (table). 295 

Importation, exportation, and coasting trade, 1899 (table). 297 

Foreign exportation. 297 

Coasting trade. 298 

Exportation of coffee, La Guaira, 1899 (table). 298 

Exportation of cacao, La Guaira, 1899 (table). 298 

Exportation of hides, La Guaira, 1899 (table). 298 

Exportation of goat and deer skins, La Guaira, 1899 (table). 299 

Foreign importations, by countries, La Guaira, 1899 (table). 299 

Puerto Cabello trade, 1899. 299 

Imports (table). 300 

Exports. 300 

Maracaibo trade, 1899 . 300 

Coffee. 300 . 

Hides. 300 

Skins. 300 

Balsam copaiba. 301 

Fish sounds. 301 

Cacao. 301 

Quina bark. 301 

Dividivi. 301 

Wood. 301 

Rubber and asphaltum. 301 

Exports from Maracaibo, 1899 . 301 






















































INDEX TO CHAPTER IX. ' 401 

Commerce—Continued. 

Commerce in 1899—Continued. Page. 

Ciudad Bolivar trade for 1899. 302 

Dynamite. 302 

Iron mines. 302 

Chamber of Commerce. 302 

Principal articles of export, 1898-99 (table). 302 

Commerce in 1900. 303 

Caracas district trade, 1900. 303 

Imports. 303 

Exports. 303 

Cattle. 303 

La Guaira trade, 1900. 303 

Imports by merchandise, 1900 (table). 304 

Exports by merchandise, 1900 (table). 305 

Coasting trade, by merchandise, 1900 (table). 305 

Importation, showing nationality of goods, 1900 (table). 305 

Exports, showing quantity of goods, 1900 (table). 306 

Exports, 1899-1900 (official figures). 306 

Puerto Cabello trade, 1900 . 306 

Exports (table). 306 

Imports, December, 1900 (table). 307 

Maracaibo trade, 1900 . 307 

Coffee. 307 

Hides. 307 

Skins. 307 

Balsam copaiba. 307 

Fish sounds. 307 

Cacao. 307 

Quina bark. 308 

Dividivi. 308 

Wood. 308 

General produce, 1900 (table). 308 

Ciudad Bolivar trade, 1900. 308 

Imports. 308 

Balata rubber. 309 

Gold mines. 309 

Cattle. 309 

Transit trade. 309 

New ventures. 309 

Iron mines. 609 

Cable.-. 609 

Exports, 1899-1900 (table) . 610 

Commerce in 1901. 610 

Trade of principal countries (1901). 810 

Exports to Germany, 1897-1901 (table). 810 

Destination of exports. 811 

Imports from New York during last six months of 1901 (table). 811 

Cotton imports from Great Britain, 1898-1901 . 312 

Caracas district trade, 1901. 312 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Cattle. 313 

4a—04-26 





















































402 


VENEZUELA. 


Commerce—Continued. 

Commerce in 1901—Continued. Page. 

La Guaira trade, 1901 . 313 

Imports from principal countries (table). 313 

Imports by articles (table). 314 

Exports by goods (table).-. 314 

Coasting trade (table). 314 

Coasting trade imports and exports by articles (table). 314 

Classification of imports (table). 315 

Foreign importations for 1901, and countries of origin (table)- "315 

British report on trade, 1901. 315 

Imports. 315 

Coal. 316 

Exports. 316 

Coasting trade. 316 

' British trade. 316 

Foreign importation (table). 317 

Foreign exportation (table). 317 

Coasting trade (table). 317 

Puerto Cabeilo trade, 1901. 317 

Imports and exports by countries (table). 317 

Imports and exports by quantities (table). 318 

' Imports from the "United States (table). 318 

Exports to the United States (table). 318 

Imports of consular district for fiscal year June 30, 1901 (table).. 319 

Exports of consular district for fiscal year June 30, 1901 (table).. 321 

Total quantity of imports, six months ended December 31, 1901 

(table). 321 

British consular report, 1901. 324 

Imports. 324 

Shipping. 324 

Exports. 324 

Maracaibo trade, 1901 . 325 

Coffee. 325 

Hides. 325 

Skins. 325 

Wool. 325 

Wood. 325 

Export of coffee (table). 326 

Hides. 326 

Goatskins. 326 

Deerskins. 326 

Balsam copaiba. 326 

Fish sounds. 326 

Cacao. 326 

Quina bark. 326 

Dividivi. 326 

Asphaltum. 326 

Export of general produce, 1901-1900 (table). 327 

Ciudad Bolivar trade, 1901. 327 

Imports. 327 

Exports ......... y .... T ............ 327 















































INDEX TO CHAPTER IX 403 

Commerce—Continued. 

Commerce in 1901—Continued. 

Ciudad Bolivar trade, 1901—Continued. Page. 

Gold mines. 327 

Banking. 327 

Principal articles of export, 1900-1901 (table). 328 

Value of imports, 1900-1901 (table). 328 

Commerce in 1902. 328 

Imports from New York (table). 328 

Imports from and exports to United States. 329 

Imports from Barcelona. 330 

Imports from Teneriffe. 330 

Caracas district trade, 1902. 331 

Coffee exports. 331 

Cacao. 331 

Asphalt. 331 

Imports. 331 

La Guaira trade, 1902. 331 

Imports.. 331 

Exports. 331 

Imports from foreign countries, 1901-2 (table). 331 

Exports to foreign countries, 1901-2 (table). 332 

Coasting trade during 1901-2. 332 

Foreign imports, showing countries, 1901-2 (table). 332 

Puerto Cabello trade, 1902 . 332 

Exports (table). 332 

Recapitulation (table). 334 

Imports (table). 334 

Total imports, all countries (table). 339 

British report. 339 

Imports. 339 

Cattle. 340 

Maracaibo trade, 1902 . 340 

Coffee. 340 

Cacao. 341 

Woods. 341 

Ebony. 341 

Vera. 341 

Cedar. 342 

Dividivi. 342 

Freights. 342 

India rubber. 342 

Cattle. 342 

Salt. 342 

British report on. 343 

Exports of coffee 1898-1902 (table). 343 

Hides. 343 

Cacao. 343 

Asphalt. 343 

General produce during year 1902 (table). 344 

Ciudad Bolivar trade, 1902. 344 

Exports 1901-2. 344 

Orinoco trade. 344 




















































404 


VENEZUELA. 


Commerce—Continued. Page. 

Commerce in 1903. 345 

Imports from New York (table) . 345 

Imports from Liverpool (table). 346 

Imports from Hamburg (table). 347 

Imports from Bordeaux (table). 347 

Imports from Havana (table). 348 

Imports from Santander (table). 348 

Summary of imports. 349 

Imports from New York 1903-2. 349 

La Guaira trade in 1903. 350 

Imports (tables). 350 

Imports, exports, and coasting trade (tables). 351 

Exports by ports and countries (table 1902-3). 352 

Summary of exports by nationalities (table 1903). 356 

United States consul’s report, 1903 . 357 

Imports by countries (table). 357 

Imports by articles (table). 358 

Percentage of imports. 359 

Exports. 359 

Coasting trade. 359 

Imports from New York, January to June, 1904. 359 

Customs laws. 359 

Fiscal code. 359 

Open ports. 360 

Import commerce. 360 

Formalities in foreign ports. 360 

Bills of health. 360 

Manifests. 360 

Bills of lading. 360 

Consular invoices. 360 

• Transshipments of goods. 360 

Certification of documents. 361 

Consular fees. 361 

Transit commerce with Colombia. 361 

Goods in transit. 361 

Importation of Colombian goods. 361 

Exportations of Venezuela to Colombia. 361 

Reestablishment of traffic with Colombia. 361 

Cristobal Colon custom-house. 362 

Tucacas custom-house. 362 

Reopening of the Orinoco. 363 

Transshipment from West Indies. 364 

Port of Manoa. 364 

Sanitary law of Venezuela. 364 

Chambers of commerce in Venezuela. 368 

Insurance companies. 368 

Tariff law (1902). 368-392 

Modifications. 393-398 


















































CHAPTER X. 


FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION—REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE 
PUBLIC DEBT—BANKING—CURRENCY. 

FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION. 

NATIONAL PROPERTY. 

The public treasure (hacienda) of the United States of Venezuela 
consists of the aggregate property, revenue, taxes, dues, and bonds 
belonging to the Government of the Union. (Fiscal Code, Law I, 
art. 1 ) 

The most important data which give a knowledge of the national 
treasure shall be centralized in the general bureau of accounts, where 
the} T shall be tiled and inscribed in the Great Book of the National 
Treasury. (Fiscal Code, Law I, arts. 2-5). 

Articles 1 to 9, Law III of the Fiscal Code, give a detailed list of 
what is considered national property. 

REVENUE. 

The sources of revenue are the following: 

1. All national products and services. 

2. The product of custom-house dues levied on foreign goods 
imported. 

3. The product of other national taxes already established or which 
may hereafter be established. 

4. The product of sundry receipts, such as fines, interest, exports, etc. 

5. The product of debts collected by the treasury on account of 
revenue and taxes established by law. 

6. The product of the administration of mines, salt mines, and pub¬ 
lic lands yielded by the States according to the constitution. (Fiscal 
Code, Law IV, arts. 1-3.) 

CUSTOMS DUTIES. 

Division of customs duties. —Customs duties consist of import and 
warehouse dues, interest, and fines, and are divided as follows: 

Per cent. 


Assigned to meet the budget expenditure. 46. 88 

Assigned to the service of the 3 per cent external debt. 10. 80 

Assigned to the service of the Diskonto loan (1896).*.-. 11.12 


405 





406 


VENEZUELA. 


Per cent. 


Assigned to the service of the 6 per cent consolidated internal debt. 17 

Assigned for the payment of foreign claims (equivalent to 13 per cent of the 

40 units). 5.20 

Assigned for improvements and public works. 9 


Land customs dues. —Foreign merchandise shall pay, on being intro¬ 
duced through the custom-houses of the Republic, 12£ per cent on the 
sum paid by the importer to said custom-houses for import duties. 


NATIONAL FINANCES. 

National wealth or treasure is the net product of the revenue which 
is collected by the national treasuiy bureaus. (Fiscal Code, Law V, 
art. 1.) 

BUDGET LAW. 

The budget law shall be framed according to the following rules: 

1. The budget shall be divided into two parts. The first part shall 
be called “ Budget of revenue,” and shall consist of a list methodically 
classifying the revenue, taxes, and other branches of income which 
constitute national property, making an estimate of the gross probable 
receipts of each fiscal year following the meeting of Congress. 

The second part, called u Budget of expenditure,” shall likewise 
consist of a list methodically classifying all expenditure to be incurred 
in each department, classifying it by chapters, taking into account the 
alterations which Congress may make and are to be carried out within 
the same fiscal year. (Fiscal Code, Law VIII, art. 1.) 

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. 

Revenue and expenditure from 1831 to 1903 .—The following table 
shows the revenue and expenditure of Venezuela from 1831 to 1903, 
compiled from official data: 


Year. 


1830-31. 

1X35-36. 

1838-39. 

1840-41. 

1845-46. 

1850- 51. 

1851- 55. 

1859-60. 

18«4-65. 

1872- 73. 

1873- 74. 

1874- 75. 

187.5-76. 

1876-77. 

1881-82. 

1882- 83. 

1883- 84. 

1884- 85. 

1885- 86. 


Year. 


Revenue. 


Expenditure. 


o|5,508,351.94 


Revenue. 


a 81,106,148. 91 
1,013,885.43 

1.536.190.65 
2,021,952.20 
1,896,109.35 
3,166,512.51 

3.177.546.57 
' 3,188,580.82 

5, 768,257.36 

4.562.632.87 
6,712, 932. 44 

6, 444,049. 92 
6,172,768. 46 

4.966.287.88 
5,571,816.16 

5.574.300.57 

6.581.542.65 
6,718,868.91 
5,247, 709. 80 


Expenditure. 


o $981,225. 37 
922, 764.66 
1,112,937.53 
989, 365. 09 

1.807.669.58 
2,688,849.21 
2,883,085.27 
3,192, 720. 90 
3,658,819. 22 
2,894,999.55 
5,008, 790. 99 
5,906,623.34 

4.211.979.59 
4,602,558.20 
5,360,007.51 
4,812, 206.90 
6,922,823. 45 
6,635,377. 78 

5,958,416.88 


1886- 87 . 

1887- 88 . 

1888- 89 . 

1889- 90 . 

1890- 91 . 

1891- 92 . 

1892- 93 . 

1893- 94 . 

1894- 95 . 

1895- 96 . 

1896- 97 . 

1897- 98 . 

1898- 99 . 

1899- 1900 . 

1900- 1901 

1901- 2 . 

1902- 3 . 

Total 


a $6, 477,865.10 
7,831,327.33 
7,768,021.75 
8,659, 504.54 
9,590,506. 00 
8,313, 262.00 
7,661,273.00 
9,331, 372.00 
9,115,372.00 
10,334,648.00 
ft 9,662, 707. 00 
6,685,965.00 
7,526,789.00 
c 7,729,292.00 
8,352,783.00 
4,992, 472.00 
6,898,882.00 


308,269,125.08 


8,317,927.05 
7,196, 517.66 
8,781,141.98 
9,594,887.00 
8,141,672.00 
7,361,672.00 
9,342,300. 00 
8, 775,187. 00 
13,191,957.00 
ft 20,580,956. 00 
9,108,504. 00 
7,526,789.00 
c 7, 729, 292. 00 
8.874,375.00 
5,208, 795. 00 
6,865,884.00 


212,647,638.54 


« U. S. currency, taking one venezolano and 5 bolivars as equivalent to the United States dollar, 
ft These figures include emissions and conversions of bonds and payment of - interest and sinking 
funds. (Mem. de Hacienda, 1898, vol. 1, p. v.) 
c A cash balance of $800,000 remained on deposit. 


























































CUSTOMS RECEIPTS 1885-1894 


407 


Customs duties , 1885 to 1895 .—The following table shows the cus¬ 
toms duties levied on merchandise imported through the custom¬ 
houses of the Republic from 1885 to 1894: 


Custom-house. 

1884 to 1885. 

1885 to 1886. 

1886 to 1887. 

1887 to 1888. 

1888 to 1889. 

LaGuaira. 

Puerto Cabello. 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

Maracaibo. 

Carupano. 

Guanta. 

Puerto Sucre. 

Cano Colorado. 

La Vela. 

T^chira. 

Giiiria. 

Juan Griego. 

Total. 

Bolivars. 

9,642,833.20 
6,248,719.26 
3,309,224.28 
2,150,236.94 
644,048.77 
148,629.91 
64, 365. 35 
90,726.57 
87,498.43 
380,482. 31 
107,226. 65 
62,644.49 

Bolivars. 
7,281,888.75 
4,168,891.89 
2, 890.984.58 
2,371,029.46 
261,662.87 
48,879.73 
12,551.65 
128,217.73 
105, 647.49 
358,275.58 
108,168.57 
6,760.43 

Bolivars. 

9, 717,906. 76 
6,998,298.18 
2,574,162. 70 
2,355,099.99 
481,489.44 
44,395. 73 
8, 357. 73 
90,661.53 
234, 785.08 
537,654. 39 
142,641.13 
17,944.56 

Bolivars. 

12,496,998.70 
8,992,738,57 
2,438,032.83 
3,879,761.38 
623,108. 67 
40,941.03 
23,523.73 
102,102.42 
206,130.97 
815,786.19 
106,883.85 
6,645.00 

Bolivars. 

12,728, 789.90 
8,270,936.51 
2,430, 994.79 
3,213,881.35 
650,284.88 
75,753.08 
48,383.09 
70,982.85 
136,132.55 
560, 782.85 
81,175.39 
14,639.49 

a 22,936,636. 86 

17,242,958. 73 

23,203,397.22 

29,732,653.34 28,282,736.73 


Custom-house. 

1889 to 1890. 

1890 to 1891. 

1891 to 1892. 

1892 to 1893. 

1893 to 1894. 

La Guaira. 

Puerto Cabello. 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

Maracaibo. 

Carupano. 

Guanta. 

Puerto Sucre. 

Cano Colorado. 

La Vela. 

T&chira. 

Giiiria. 

Juan Griego. 

Bolivars. 

15,720,783.30 
9,299,175,01 
2,438,146.91 
4,045,376.88 
694,128.35 
14,367.88 
53,519.07 
104,960. 48 
174,530. 97 
975,163.54 
36, 974. 97 
349.70 

Bolivars. 
19,377,571.57 
11,281,735.17 
2,451,788.44 
4,640,079.99 
841,662.08 
21,816.22 
41,315.00 
86,553.47 
332,274.79 
919,214.01 
29, 705.49 
5,063.00 

Bolivars. 

17,343,172.15 
8,673,343.27 
1,753,938.91 
4,588,438. 22 
449,744. 31 
2,613.00 
54,591.43 
94, 752. 70 
110,313.97 
550,958.73 
49,492. 33 
5,635.00 

Bolivars. 

13,152,973. 70 
6,910,037.58 

1,950,445.65 
2,988, 781. 55 
635,758.64 
107,129.56 
50,549.15 
30,754.63 
309,081.39 
386,938.08 
53,503.11 
223.00 

Bolivars. 

16,856,148.54 
10,930,712.91 

2.358.951.20 

4.641.556.20 

897.786.92 
309,797.06 
131,894.39 
139,502.99 

275.972.92 
732,720.73 

58,361.43 
8,827.97 

Total. 

a 33,557,477. 06 

40,028, 779. 23 

33,676,994.02 

26,576,176.01 

37,342,233.26 


a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


Custom-house receijrts , 1885-1895 .—The following table shows the 
amount of revenue collected from different sources by the custom¬ 
houses of the Republic from 1885 to 1894: 


Custom-house. 

1884 to 1885. 

1885 to 1886. 

1886 to 1887. 

1887 to 1888. 

1888 to 1889. 

La Guaira. 

Puerto Cabello. 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

Maracaibo. 

Carupano. 

Guanta. 

Puerto Sucre .. 

Cano Colorado. 

La Vela. 

Tdchira. 

Giiiria. 

Juan Griego. 

Bolivars. 

10,262,805.98 
6,727,051.63 
3,645,217.94 
4,391,844.06 
740,897.29 
292,868.03 
456,936.51 
147,242.32 
377,139.68 
426,598.95 
186,259.11 
215,532.13 

Bolivars. 

7,838, 972.95 
4,642, 762. 38 
2,682, 340. 73 
4,434,342.05 
367,230.59 
257,711.15 
144,904.04 
176,600. 71 
323, 268. 82 
446,584.93 
149,963.11 
294,579.17 

Bolivars. 

10,450,020.47 
7,522,171.24 
2,737, 563.82 
4,457,089.19 
568,216. 75 
238, 443. 69 
361,617.21 
143,148. 91 
432,379.69 
585,232.61 
189,143.11 
413,293.32 

Bolivars. 

13,207,666. 60 
9,602, 797.54 
2, 726,648.37 
7, 784,804.07 
721,582.04 
143, 384. 82 
236,396.19 
155, 762.11 
467, 496.10 
872,306. 05 
158,196.11 
385,213.24 

Bolivars. 
13,728,572. 43 
8,844,733. 52 
2,694, 566. 62 
6,331,597.53 

775.154.11 
161,591.05 

363.473.12 
123, 034.12 
387,576.18 
615,429.67 
131,330. 67 
348,909.61 

Total. 

a 27,870,393. 63 

21,759,300.63 

28,098,320.01 

36,462,253.24 

34,505,968.53 


a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar, 




































































































408 


VENEZUELA 


Custom-house. 

1889 to 1890. 

1890 to 1891. 

1891 to 1892. 

1892 to 1893. 

1893 to 1894. 

La Guaira. 

Puerto Cabello. 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

Maracaibo. 

Carupano. 

Guanta. 

Puerto Sucre. 

Cano Colorado. 

La Vela. 

T&chira. 

Giiiria. 

Juan Griego. 

Total. 

Bolivars. 

16,361,740.39 
10,026,095.84 
2,717,708.67 
8,496,478.58 
686,903.15 
199,687.53 
268,166.07 
156,817.33 
339,159.47 
1,028,730.73 
90,161.57 
378,215.82 

Bolivars. 

20,132,009. 94 
11,924,779.32 
2,725,204.65 
8,891,099.91 
942,424.46 
187,041.88 
282,062.02 
139, 605.28 
542,936. 77 
968,935.74 
826,626.09 
411,712.49 

Bolivars. 

17,814,228.96 
9,150,943.80 
1,915,129.21 
9,443,451.58 
535,080.99 
196,571.57 
221,158.39 
145,324.16 
267,658.96 
615,636.73 
95,715.83 
307,460.51 

Bolivars. 

14,342,312.15 
8,708,136.27 
2,647,116.84 
8,267,609.74 
947,731.00 
219,337.08 
394,669.28 
88,611.02 
517,543.94 
457,856.71 
103,140.77 
115,929.37 

Bolivars. 
18,951,570.24 
11,574,117.10 
2,641,867.12 
9,870,064.47 
1,011,489.60 
435,195.27 
459,326.32 
192,037.63 
485,665.40 
793,185.03 
114,184.02 
182,802.22 

« 40,749,865.15 

47,974,438.55 

40,708,360.69 

36,809,994.17 

46,711,504.42 


a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 


Custom-house expenditures from 1885 to 1891 ±.—The following table 
shows the amounts paid by the different custom-houses from 1885 to 
1894: 


Custom-houses. 

• 

1884 to 1886. 

1885 to 1886. 

1886 to 1887. 

1887 to 1888. 

1888 to 1889. 

La Guaira. 

Puerto Cabello. 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

Maracaibo. 

Canipano. 

Guanta. 

Puerto Sucre. 

Cano Colorado. 

La Vela. 

T&chira. 

Giiiria. 

Juan Griego. 

Total. 

Bolivars. 

10,812,781.36 
6,734,043.13 
3,635,649.75 
4,642,596.71 
745, 067.29 
313,175. 53 
271,696.51 
144,741.32 
355,853.38 
429,033.95 
182,207.11 
379,513.28 

Bolivars. 

8,091,815.25 
4,628, 500.82 
2, 678,347.73 
4,228,697.54 
358,657.59 
212,251.65 
210,159.54 
177,900.21 
327,264.67 
403,408. 68 
152,206.11 
429,214.27 

Bolivars. 

10,128,106.37 

7.510.874.24 
2,811,566.88 

4.513.603.25 
579,162.25 
221,703.69 
309,686.71 
139,103.91 
463,548.84 
585,494.60 

187.542.11 

315.489.12 

Bolivars. 

12,800,792.05 
9,593,702.54 
2,716,738.77 
7,475,350.52 

723.419.54 
167,912.22 
305,990.19 

155.338.11 
461,330.15 

872.362.55 

158.335.11 
398,908.59 

Bolivars. 

12,905,896.23 
8,876,077.02 
2,693,815.72 
6,311,585.33 

783.751.66 
204,427.05 
332,748.12 
123,017.24 
370,009.28 
612,068.27 

130.996.67 
394,545.26 

a 28,646, 359. 32 

21,898,424. 06 

27,765,881.97 

35,830,180.34 

33,738,937.85 

Custom-house. 

1889 to 1890. 

1890 to 1891. 

1891 to 1892. 

1892 to 1893. 

1893 to 1894. 

La Guaira. 

Puerto Cabello. 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

Maracaibo. 

Carupano . 

Guanta. 

Puerto Sucre. 

Cano Colorado. 

La Vela. 

T&chira. 

Giiiria. 

Juan Griego. 

Total. 

Bolivars. 

15,965,513.29 
9,914,085.84 
2,702,475.64 
8,503,852.46 
691,660.15 
172,767.52 
262,091.07 
157,528. 33 
383,894.42 
1,029,542.99 
89,958.37 
323,397.82 

Bolivars. 

20,624,026.69 
11,906,876.82 
2,715,318.16 
9,077,188.74 
1,055,309.46 
160,635.88 
262,040.52 
139,344.28 
504,863.07 
973,404. 74 
88,960. 59 
444,564.49 

Bolivars. 

18,275,872.46 
9,146,281. 80 
1,902,665.59 
9,743,704.13 
533,150.99 
263,793.57 
139,226.89 
145,547.16 
386,951.96 
609,311.73 
92,285.33 
327,520.51 

Bolivars. 

15,753,977.10 
8,583,199.27 
2,640,692.99 
8,395,906.21 
816,414.50 
271,843.58 
370,756.29 
82,302.02 
679,531. 56 
457,856.71 
113,106.77 
140,779.87 

Bolivars. 

18,624,960.29 
11,564,957.10 
2,642,873.25 
9,946,816.87 
1,141,580.60 
608,669.77 
449,807.32 
192,985. 63 
478,208.44 
793,185.03 
111,456.52 
204,359.72 

a 40,196,768.10 j 47,952,533.44 

41,566,312.12 

38,306,366. 87 

46,659,860. 54 


a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 



























































































KE VENUE 1895-1898 


409 


Salt revenue in 189J+. —-The following table shows the returns of the 
salt mines of the Republic during the year 1894: 


Salt-mine agency. 

Value of per¬ 
mits. 

Levied on 
weight. 

Smuggled 
salt seized. 

Interest on 
promissory 
notes. 

Tax on 
loading salt. 

Total. 

La Guaira. 

Bolivars. 
415,735.00 
123,000.00 
323,785.00 
17,400.00 
271,135.00 
162,880.00 

Bolivars. 
343.91 
1,158.90 

Bolivars. 

Bolivars. 

3,093.61 
2,889.28 
601.12 

Bolivars. 

Bolivars. 
419,172.52 
127,648.18 
331,106.26 
17,779.04 
278,438. 59 
181,018.76 
12.00 

102.287.22 

303.813.23 
850.80 

Puerto Cabello. 



Cumand. 


6,720.14 
315.24 
492.39 
13,816.12 

Barcelona. 

63. 80 
104.58 


Juan Griego. 


6, 706. 62 
4,322.64 

Porlamar. 


Carunano . 

12.00 


Coro. 

100,645.00 
293,280.00 

66.70 
110.00 

1,575.52 
5,189.18 


Maracaibo. 

1,568.00 

150.80 

3,666. 02 

Ciudad Bolivar. 






Total. 

1,708,460.00 

4,101.99 

176.70 

24,377. 97 

25,009.91 | a 1,762,126.57 



« United States currency. 


Salt revenue from 1900 to 1903. —The following table shows the 
revenue derived from salt mines in Venezuela from 1900 to 1903: 


Year. 

Net 

revenue. 

Year. 

Net 

revenue. 

1900 . 

a $215,482 
5,655,515 

1902. 

a$529,122 
295,730 

1901. 

1903. 




a U. S. currency. 


Revenue itemized , from 1895 to 1898. —The following table shows 
the amounts contributed by the different sources of revenue from 1895 
to 1898, according to official data: 


Description. 

1894-95. 

1895-96. 

1896-97. 

1897-98. 

Import duties . 

Storage. 

Bolivars. 
32,337,691 
70,105 

Bolivars. 
37,259,167 
91,535 

Bolivars. 
35,068,329 
80,029 
125,930 

Bolivars. 
22,599,413 
39,460 

Interest. 

98,682 
36,229 

141,406 

70,725 

Fines. 

34,923 
8,429,009 
1, 307, 697 
141,016 

33,474 
7, 712, 935 

27,264 

Transit dues. 

7,374,923 

6,507,854 

Duty on tobacco . 

1, 142,658 
147,485 
180,514 
6,486 

1,161,038 

831,703 

Stamped paper . 

136,196 

106,952 

Telegraphs . 

196,612 

155,017 

102, 377 

TVlfMihonps _ . 

3,990 

30,001 

5,449 

5, 637 

Waste lands . 

28,303 

1 , 546 

97,333 

20, 682 

Ssr»Virml fin pq . ... 

2,270 
411,462 

Plnnsnla r fees ... 

460,623 

389,788 

177,786 

Rupnst.rv . 

90,635 

97;145 

97, 603 

67,592 

Prnrlnpf. of srII flpnosi ts .. 

989,891 

1,169,871 

1,039,629 

844,249 

Sn 1 1 to y ft fi flit inn r1 . 

132,270 

Tncnmp nf prlnuntioTifi 1 institutions. 

504, 093 

640,808 
10,400 

543, 831 

533,098 

T'prritorv rpvpmip . 

26,091 
46,588 

10,400 

10,400 

TVfim’ne' ta v . 

16, 099 

23,622 

10,284 

Pastflirp stiimns . 

1,058,083 

3,850 

1,078,184 

1,110,777 

852,468 

Patents . 

4,500 

6,010 

7,150 

Pnprta Pa Pel lr» whn rf d lies ___ 

298,314 

375,964 

341,989 

205,216 


3,066,350 
157,010 






rprocflc wfltprwnrlifii 

138,869 

147,056 

317,455 


17,048 

2,924 

3,160 



Total - _ _ _ _ _ ....._ 

a 48,643,211 

51,459,947 

48,313,539 

33,429,825 



« Five bolivars taken as equal to the United States dollar. 


Expenditure, by departments , from 1895 to 1903.— The expenditure 
for which each department of state was responsible, from l89o to 1903, 
is shown in the following table, compiled from Venezuelan officia 1 data. 

















































































































410 


VENEZUELA 


Department. 

1895. 

1896. 

1897. 

1898. 

Interior. 

Bolivars. 

11,829,310 
1,859,969 
2,297,162 
3,428, 444 
15,531,680 

Bolivars. 

14,422,114 
2,361,700 
3,049,179 
3,372,742 
27,569,463 

Bolivars. 
13,386,059 
2,292,745 
2,878,191 
3,499, 937 
67,432,805 

Bolivars. 

11,272,264 
1,463,688 
1,607,778 
2,841,437 
4,320,585 
12,355,283 
3,483,786 
7,715, 697 

31,354 
450,649 

Foreign affairs. 

Fomelito. 

Public instruction.... 
Finance. 

Public credit. 

Public works. 

2,123,176 
6,821, 784 

5,548,242 
9,636,337 

6, 783,772 
7,631,272 

War and marine. 

Agriculture, indus- 
trv, and commerce. 

Posts and telegraphs.. 




Total. 




a 43,891,525 

65, 959,787 

103,904,781 

45,542,524 



Department. 

1899.. 

1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

Interior. 

Foreign affairs. 

Fomento. 

Bolivars. 

14,028,898. 59 
1,590, 747.60 

Bolivars. 

14,327,018.29 
1,160,933.66 

Bolivars. 
13,881,213. 73 
2,447,193.95 
2,361,073.04 
2,109,462.10 

3,042,651.74 

2,273,018.40 
8,391,714.39 

Bolivars. 
4,327,425.00 
469,716.16 
2,509,221.11 
2,046,205.48 

3,342,657.40 

415,475.53 
16,356,286.86 

Bolivars. 
1,628,919.48 
2,082,302. 91 
1,592,625.30 
703,325.07 
( 2,410,480.13 

305,763.14 
13,070,021.29 

Public instruction.... 

Finance. 

Public credit. 

Public works. 

War and marine. 

Agriculture, indus¬ 
try, and commerce. 
Posts and telegraphs.. 
Extraordinary service 

Total. 

2,511,628.82 
2,834,866.67 
2,679,286.89 
1,260,009.72 
5,044,501. 53 

82, 248.04 
1,932,808.26 
3,686,506.19 

1,006,610.59 

| 2,204,065.16 

669,709.65 
2,857,192.57 

541,987.50 
465, 313.39 
1,030,307.86 




3, 478,077.95 

2,954,796.17 

1,743,236.04 

35,651, 502.31 

24,263,138. 67 

37,984,405.30 

32,421,783.71 

23,536,673.36 


« Five bolivars taken as equal to the U. S. dollar. 


Aggregate total of customs revenue from 189 ^ to 1903. —The following 

table shows the revenue collected from different sources and the bud- 
gets during the decade of 1894-1903: 


Year. 

Custom-house 

revenue. 

General reve¬ 
nue. 

Total revenue. 

Budgets. 

1894. 

a $7,524,917 
6,508,541 
7,505,406 
7,061,552 
4,539, 332 
5,488,978 
3,330,171 

5, 988,177 
3,990,952 
2,885, 705 

<i$10,284,373 
9,731,359 
10,291,989 
9, 662,507 
6,685, 965 
7,526,789 
7,389,744 
8,989,052 
6,330,153 
6,238,948 

a $31,781,334 
26, 790,400 
31, 634,731 
32,061,658 
17,654,009 
13,638,181 
11,727,294 
15,447,642 
12,990, 912 
11,606,289 

a $7,424,000 
6,836,000 
8,060,000 
20,780, 956 
9,108,504 
7, 526, 789 
7, 729, 292 
8,874,375 
5,208,795 
6, 865,884 

1895. 

1896. 

1897. 

1898. 

1899. 

1900. 

1901. 

1902 . 

1903 . 


a U. S. currency, taking five bolivars as equivalent to the U. S. dollar. 


La Guaira customs revenue , expenditure , and net returns , 189If to 

1903. —The following table, compiled from official data, shows the 
custom-house receipts, expenditure, and net returns of La Guaira 
from 1894 to 1903: 


Year. 


1894. 

1895.. 

1896.. 

1897.. 

1898.. 

1901.. 
1902. 
1903 


Custom¬ 

houses. 


(Maritime 
(Inland .. 
(Maritime 
(Inland .. 
^Maritime 
(Inland .. 
(Maritime 
(Inland .. 
(Maritime 
(Inland .. 
Maritime 

.do ... 

.do 


a u 


Gross returns. 


a S3,389,380 
596,615 
2,876,392 
538,671 
3,409,289 
596,009 
3,489, 719 
548,037 
2,539,119 
505,300 
1,712,766 
1,729,382 
2,961,938 


Expendi¬ 

ture. 


a $77,821 
2,716 
122,605 
2, 730 
197,048 
2,715 
383,118 
2,715 
263,949 
2,221 


Net returns. 


a $3,311,559 
593,899 
2,753, 787 
535, 941 
3,212,241 
593, 294 
3,106,601 
545,322 
2,275,170 
503,079 


Per cent 
of 

expendi¬ 

ture. 


2.09 
.45 
4.26 
.50 
5.77 
.45 
10.98- 
.49 
10.00 
.43 


S. currency. 



















































































































EXTRAORDINARY WAR TAX. 


411 


Puerto Cabello customs revenue , expenditure , and net returns from 
1891+ to 1903. —The following table shows the custom-house receipts, 
expenditure, and net returns of Puerto Cabello from 1894 to 1903, 
compiled from official data: 


Year. 

Custom¬ 

houses. 

Gross returns. 

Expendi¬ 

ture. 

Net returns. 

Per cent 
of 

expendi¬ 

ture. 

1894. 

(Maritime... 

(Inland. 

(Maritime... 

(Inland. 

(Maritime... 

(Inland. 

(Maritime... 

(Inland. 

(Maritime... 

(Inland. 

Maritime... 

a $2,196,415 
455,107 
1,775,034 
389,224 
1,930,389 
371,892 
1,751,829 
317,228 
703,185 
208,122 
1,180,000 

a $62,130 
2,805 
118,990 
2, 725 
83,111 
2, 719 
218,827 
2, 745 
62,020 
2,450 

« $2,134,285 
452,302 
1,656,044 
386,499 
1,853,278 
369,173 
1,533,002 
314,483 
641,165 
205,672 

2.83 
.61 
6.70 
.70 
4.29 
.73 
12.50 
.86 
8.00 
1.17 

1895. 

1890. 

1897. 

1898. 

1903. 






a U. S. currency. 

EXTRAORDINARY WAR TAX (FEBRUARY TO JULY, 1903). 

From the 17th of February, 1903, the date on which the extraordi¬ 
nary war tax of 30 per cent import duty on merchandise entered at 
the various custom-houses of the Republic of Venezuela was imposed, 
to July 31, 1903, the receipts from this tax have been as follows: 


Custom-house. 

Imports and 
exports. 

Custom-house. 

Imports and 
exports. 

February 19 to March 18. 

Bolivars. 

May 16 to June 15 —Continued. 

Bolivars. 

T,n fJnsirfl ... 

429,406.06 
136,620.17 
246,659.00 
19,091.58 

Maracaibo. 

284,897.47 
43,243.82 
4,244.57 

Puerto fin hplln .. 

Canipano. 


La Vela. 

TiflVplfl __ 

Guanta. 

2,350. 96 
194.90 
641.00 

March 18 to April 15. 

Juan Griego. 

San Antonio del Tfichira. 

La Guaira. 

387,218.05 

June 15 to July 15. 


Puerto Cabello. 

158, 989.85 
192,431.77 

5,009. 58 
625.51 

La Guaira. 

396, 256. 80 

T .o Vpin .... 

Puerto Cabello. 

169, 739. 01 


Maracaibo. 

298,154. 32 


2,540.24 

Carupano. 

28,266. 70 
8, 854. 94 


Guanta. 

April 16 to May 16. 


Juan Griego. 

860.82 


Puerto Sucre. 

660.34 

La Guaira. 

423, / 0.25 


669.62 

Puerto Cabello. 

112,609. 20 


Maracaibo. 

Carupano. 

198, 6*9 .98 
115,682. 64 

July 15 to July SI. 


La Vela. 

10,648. 71 


168,355.45 
92,152.92 
127,887.76 
16,161.77 
243. 52 
43.64 

Juan Griego. 

512.96 


Puerto Sucre. 

1,691.16 


San Antonio del T&chira. 

226. 00 

r*n rn nn no 

May 16 to June 15. 


Porlamar. 

San Antonio del T&chira. 

La Guaira. 

490,571.80 
166,139. 64 

Total. 

a 4,744,003.84 




a Five bolivars taken as equal to the U. S. dollar. 


MARACAIBO CUSTOMS RECEIPTS, 1898. 

From July 1 to December 31, 1898, the receipts were as follows: 
Transit duties on 12,332,740 kilos of coffee, 616,637.30 bolivars; 
untanned skins, 261,660.74 kilos, 13,078.04 bolivars; cacao, 42,537 



















































































412 


VENEZUELA. 


kilos, 2,126.85 bolivars. The import duties on foreign merchandise, 
12£ per cent, which is the tax of the maritime custom-house on 
1,367,747.28 bolivars, yielded 170,968.41 bolivars, this exclusive of the 
additional tax on cut tobacco for cigarettes and the simple duty (only 
4 centimos per kilo) on sea salt, on 644,318 kilos taken from the deposits 
of SalinaRica, Oribor, and Sabaneta, which yielded 25, 772.72 bolivars. 

The figures mentioned under the first head, representing the national 
production, are not the maximum of the exports from the port of 
Maracaibo. 

The value of the exports, after the payment of the respective tax, 
reached the sum of 9,093,843 bolivars during the time mentioned. 

The following articles have been exported free of duty, a kilo being 
equal to 2.2046 pounds, and a bolivar worth 19.3 cents in United States 


currency: 



Quantity. 

Value. 


Quantity. 

Value. 

Boxwood.. 

Kilos. 

759.247 
268,016 
498,182 

26, 760 
291,882 

500.247 
1,763 
9,036 

120 

Bolivars. 
24,793 
15,450 

Fish bladders. 

Kilos. 

20,921 
1,639 
1,639 

Bolivars. 
39,179 
1,859 
1,412 

Cedarwood. 

Galvanized iron. 

Ebony. 

16; 453 
774 

Copper. 

Lignum-vitse. 

Zinc. 

'508 

’400 

Fustic. 

24,350 
43,190 

986 

Sprouts. 

2,464 

1,167 
9,250 

Dividivi. 

Crane plumes. 

16 

Cinchona bark. 

Corn. 

68,500 
248,595 
23,070 
5,316 
1,472 

6; 461 
52,056 
2,773 

Asphalt. 

451 

Panela. 

Rubber. 

300 

Bananas. 

Lamb’s wool. 

2,170 
16,023 

1,705 

57,434 

Miscellaneous. 

6; 312 
320 

Copaiba. 

Brown sugar. 




RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF MARACAIBO, LAST HALF OF 

1902. 


Bolivars. 


Customs receipts, July to December, 1902. 1, 847, 850. 60 

Fines, July to December, 1902 . 2, 074. 86 

Interest, July to December, 1902. 501. 23 

Storage, July to November, 1902 . 54. 30 

Bills collectible, July and August, 1902. 3, 208. 83 

Tax on mines, September to December, 1902. 1,315.50 

Parcels post, July to December, 1902 . 3,192.19 

Sealed paper, July to December, 1902 .. 4, 779. 90 

Tax on tobacco in December. 14. 00 


Transit taxes on foreign merchandise, July to December, 1902. 463,102, 06 

Transit taxes on domestic products, July to December, 1902. 39,074. 95 

Transit taxes on salt, July to December, 1902. 61, 970. 00 


Total. 

The receipts, b} T months, were: 

July. 

August. 

September. 

October. 

November. 

December. 


12 , 427,138. 42 
\«$485, 427. 68 


Bolivars. 

307, 201. 94 
341, 500. 94 
212,135. 98 
580, 036. 48 
364,995. 81 
621, 267. 27 

- 2,427,138. 42 


a U. S. currency. 






























































REVENUE 1901. 


413 


The expenditures were as follows: 

Bolivars. 


Transportation of funds. 877,053. 84 

Public credit, public works, public instruction, State treas¬ 
ury, and fomento. 550, 084. 58 Bolivars. 

/2,427,138. 42 
\«$485, 427. 68 


CUSTOMS RECEIPTS AT CARtfPANO, LAST HALF OF 1901. 


The receipts of the custom-house at Carupano for the six months 
from July to December, 1901, inclusive, amounted to 535,445.24 bol¬ 
ivars ($107,089.05), collected from the following- sources: 

Bolivars. 


Imports.. 

Parcels post... 

Fines. 

Auction sales .. 

Interest . 

Stamped paper 
Tax on mines. 


344,562. 71 
1,715.05 
1,592. 10 
2, 349. 60 
127. 04 
2,470. 05 
3,117. 74 


355, 934. 29 

Merchandise for the Azufrales Mining Company and the municipal 
council. 172, 007. 60 

527, 941. 89 

Duties on exports. 7, 503. 35 

535, 445. 24 


REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ITEMIZED, 1901. 

The following tables show the revenue and expenditure for 1901. 
The figures given are taken from the finance minister’s report. 

Revenue , 1901. 

Bolivars. 

. 24,267,778.04 

. 7, 309, 433. 72 

.. 405, 334. 00 

. 1,950,073.17 

.. 3,831,300.24 


37, 763, 919.17 


Cash balance on deposit December 31, 1900. 4,000,000. 00 

Total. . 41,763,919.17 


Customs receipts. 

Transit tax. 

Tax on cattle. 

Profit on silver coinage 
Sundry receipts. 


Expenditure , 1901. 


Budgetary expenditure, salaries, fortresses, etc. 20,783,449.29 

Military expenditure and war materials. 8, 957, 282. 74 

Naval expenditure and war materials. 1, 363, 83 <. 39 

Clothing of troops. 657,159. 56 

Service of Puerto Cabello bonds. 153, 049. 54 

Revenue of States.-. 8,219, 543. 34 

Cost of silver coinage. 2,049,926. 83 


a U. S. currency. 




































414 


VENEZUELA. 


Bolivars. 

Service of debts. 2,975,634.31 

Credits due to sundry firms, etc. 1, 087, 305. 71 

Paid to Banco de Venezuela on “Excess account”. 1, 650, 000. 00 

Paid on account of war loan...— 246, 500. 00 

Expenses of boundary commissions, etc. 595, 400. 00 

Public works, etc.. 286, 300. 00 

Installation and repairs of telegraph lines. 130, 693. 81 

Sundries. 205, 793.10 


Total. 44,371,875.56 


SUMMARY. 


Bolivars. U. S. currency. 

Revenue. 41,763,919.17 ($8,352,783.83) 

Expenditure. 44,371,875.56 ($8,874,375.11) 


Deficit. 2,607,956.39 ($521,591.27) 


The detailed statement given of the amounts expended on the 
“ Service of Debts” is as follows: 

Railway debt (half of coupon, January to August, inclusive, cost of Bolivars. 


exchange, etc.). 1,050, 783.00 

External debt (half of coupon, December, 1900, to June, Bolivars. 

1901). 622,767.53 

Balance of August, 1899, coupon. 115,913.08 

- 738, 680. 61 

Foreign claims. 336, 503. 29 

American legation, Hancox, and other claims.. 143,147. 85 

Internal 6 per cent debt. 531,163. 88 

Internal debt, 1 per cent per month. 59,442. 60 


Total. 2,859,721.23 


REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ITEMIZED, 1902. 


The finance minister’s report contains, as regards the revenue for 
1902, a statement of the receipts and expenditure under the various 
heads during each month of the year. This has been summarized in 
the following tables: 


Revenue , 1902. 


Bolivars. 


Customs receipts. 14, 753, 591. 20 

Transit tax. 4, 040, 738. 30 

Silver coinage. 2,000,000.00 

Transfers from the service of the salt-bonds account. 2, 665,126. 74 

Transfer from the Puerto Cabello wharf account. 93,187. 27 

Sundry receipts . 1,409, 709. 99 


Total 


24,962, 353. 50 


Expenditure , 1902. 


Budgetary expenditure, salaries, fortresses. 9,958,374.82 

Military expenditure, rations, war materials, etc. 11, 329, 954. 59 

Revenue of the States. 1,311,177.50 

Cost of silver coinage. 911,095.34 








































Handbook of Venezuela. 



CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF CARACAS. 






































REVENUE 1903. 


415 


V 

Bolivars. 

Transfer to the Puerto Cabello wharf account. 00, 249. 85 

Paid to Banco de Venezuela to liquidate the “Excess account”. 730, 823. 79 

Naval expenditure. 1, 712, 301. 49 


SUMMARY. 


Revenue 

Expenditure 


26, 043, 977. 38 

Bolivars. U. S. currency. 

24,962,353.50 ($4,992,470.70) 
26,043,977.38 ($5,208,795.47) 


Deficit. 1,081,623.88 ($216,324.77) 

✓ 

The customs revenue in 1902 showed a falling off of more than 
9,500,000 bolivars as compared with 1901. In view of this serious 
decrease the Government had been obliged to suspend the service of 
the salt bonds and to transfer the amounts specially assigned for this 
purpose to the general revenue account. 


REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ITEMIZED, 1903. 


The message sent by the President of Venezuela to Congress on 
February 20, 1904, contains a report on the finances of the country 
of which the following is a summary: 


Revenue , 1903. 


Customs receipts. 

Transit tax. 

Transfer of the salt-bonds account 
Transfer of the 1903 loan accbunt. 

Silver coinage. 

Sundry receipts. 


Bolivars. 

21,102, 827. 53 
5, 731, 292. 66 
1,318, 615. 08 
341, 266. 56 
3, 000, 000. 00 
3, 000, 410. 25 


Expenditure , 1903. 


34, 494, 412. 08 


Budgetary expenditure. 10, 316, 619. 02 

Military expenditure. 10, 962, 628. 63 

Revenue of the States.— 1, 435, 272.16 

Coinage expense. 1, 386, 752. 06 

Transfer of several accounts. 259,153. 95 

Public works. b 190, 070. 77 

Public instruction. 705, 917. 99 

Paid to Messrs. H. L. Boulton (Limited) on account of the 30 per cent 
on the La Guaira and Puerto Cabello receipt according to the Wash¬ 
ington protocols. 4,183, 804. 90 

Paid to the Banco de Venezuela. 3, 979, 201. 28 

Cash balance in the Treasury December 31, 1903 . 164, 991. 32 


34, 494, 412. 08 


SUMMARY. 


Bolivars. U. S. currency. 

Revenue. 34,494,412.08 ($6,898,882.41) 

Expenditures. 34,329,420.76 ($6,865,884.15) 


Surplus 


164,991.32 ($32,998.28) 


































416 


VENEZUELA. 


There was a deposit of stamps in the Bank of Venezuela amounting 
to 19,595,232.55 bolivars, and the salt bonds amounted to 4,892,765 
bolivars. 

PUBLIC DEBT.« 

HISTORY OF THE INTERNAL DEBT OF VENEZUELA. 

The origin of the internal debt of Venezuela is as follows: 

1826 .—Different kinds of internal debt being in existence, the 
Colombian Congress decreed, on Ma } 7 22 , 1826, the establishment of 
the public credit. Article I of said decree acknowledged as public 
debt: ( 1 ) The sum of $1,181,467.4f- reals liquidated on said date and 
that which might be adjusted by the respective committee of Bogota; 
( 2 ) that of $814,710 due on the loan of July 25, 1823, raised to pay 
the Apure army; (3) the balance due on the $5,458,600 voted for 
army pensions; (4) the balance due on the half salaries retained by 
decree of September 14, 1819; (5) one-third retained on salaries by 
law of October 8 , 1821; ( 6 ) the capital of the annuities on account of 
contributions during war periods, granted by the republican Govern¬ 
ment and to be paid by the treasuries of Nueva Granada and Vene¬ 
zuela; and (7) the amount acknowledged and guaranteed by the act of 
independence of the Isthmus of Panama after it had been adjusted by 
the above-mentioned committee of Bogota. 

The same law provides that the debts mentioned in Nos. 1 and 
2 were to continue bearing 5 per cent annual interest, and the other 
five were to bear 3 per cent per annum from July 1 , 1826. 

FLOATING DEBT. 

1827 - 28 .—On June 13, 1827, the Executive Power informed Con¬ 
gress that several debts were in default, and Congress decreed, on 
August 31, 1827, to appropriate one-sevent-h of the customs receipts, 
after deducting the one-eighth applied to the payment of foreign 
debt interests, ( 1 ) to pay foreign citizens or subjects; ( 2 ) to pay 
drafts drawn on the Government on account of the 1824 loan; (3) to 
pay the $200,000 decreed on J 11 I 3 7 30, 1821; (4) to pa } 7 the loans which 
since said date the Executive Power might have demanded, and (5) to 
pay the third of the salaries retained by the executive. 

The Government of Colombia, to avoid inconvenience, agreed, on 
December 23, 1828, to admit bonds of the floating debt in payment of 
one-eighth of the import duties and of the totality of the export 
duties. 

OLD CONSOLIDATED. 

1830 - 1837 .—When Venezuela became an independent self-governing 
nation the Venezuelan custom-houses held a great quantity of the float¬ 
ing debt which continued to be paid in according to article 22 of the 
law of October 14, 1830, and article 20 of that of May 22 , 1834. As 
said payment decreased the receipts, Congress decreed on May 5 , 1837, 


a Data from official publications of Venezuela. 





INTERNAL DEBT 1838-1845. 


417 


that the floating debt should be funded and its amount converted at 
par into the 5 per cent consolidated debt, $50,000 per annum being 
appropriated from the customs receipts to pay the interest and redeem 
the capital by quarterly tenders. After Venezuela separated from 
Colombia the floating debt funded in the custom-houses amounted to 
$1,311,632, and the balance, which was converted into consolidated 
debt, to $491,018.28. Provision was made by the aforesaid law for the 
capital and interest of the consolidated and nonconsolidated debts of 
Colombia. 

1838 . —On April 26, 1838, it was provided that the consolidated debt 
should be funded. 

1839 . —On Ma} r 16, 1839, the final division of the debt of Colombia 
was effected, and according to the convention of December 23, 1834, 
Venezuela became responsible for 28^ units, amounting to $7,217,- 
915.12, of which the following table gives the detail: 


Denomination of debts. 

Amounts. 

Nonconsolidated 3 per cent. 

82,105,789.03 
675,251. 26 
235,997.56 
1,101,046.04 
66,386. 75 
764,963.59 
80,274.38 

Consolidated 3 per cent. 

Nonconsolidated 5 per cent. 

Con soli dfl ted finer cent _.__. 

TP 1 on ti n p* <i pht assigned. 

Trpflsnrv without interest. 

T,iqnidation of int.erest. 

Total . 

7,217,915.12 



MODERN CONSOLIDATED. 

1840 . —On April 15, 1840, the law of 1838 was amended and the part 
for which Venezuela v r as responsible, regarding its own consolidated 
debt, w T as fixed at $500,000 and stockholders of Colombian consolidated 
and nonconsolidated 3 and 5 per cent debts, were declared entitled 
thereto since the dates established by the law' of May 22, 1826. 

1841 . —Congress did not consider this means ample enough for the 
extinction of the interior debt of Colombian origin and increased the 
assignation to $180,000 and extended until June 30, 1842, the term for 
consolidating the debt at 33i per cent, and those unwilling to do so 
could retain their securities and rights impaired. The amount of 
$2,231,000 was converted into $743,649 of the consolidated debt and 
the balance ($1,603,000) was not presented for conversion. 

1843 . —Congress authorized the Executive Power on April 27,1843, 
to continue the issue of consolidated-debt bonds until all the noncon¬ 
solidated were converted. 

1845 ._On April 21,1845, the consolidated debt was increased $28,000 
and the sinking fund $2,850, which is equal to 10 per cent of the increase. 

SPANISH DEBT. 

The treaty of March 30, 1845, concluded between Venezuela and 
Spain, which was ratified by decree of May 27, 1845, acknowledged as 
4a— 04-27 


















418 


VENEZUELA. 


nonconsolidated debt that which was recorded in the treasury until 
July 5, 1811, and the value of the property belonging to Spanish 
subjects that was confiscated by the Government of the Republic, 
being convertible into consolidated debt according to the provisions 
of law of May 8 and regulating decrees of April 15, 1840, and April 
27, 1843. 

Internal debt of Venezuela, 1838 to 1872. —The following table, com¬ 
piled from the official report of statistics of Venezuela for 1873, shows 
the amount of internal debt in each of the years comprised from 
1838 to 1872: 


Year. 

Internal debt. 

Year. 

Internal debt. 

1838. 

«$7,217,915.12 

4,553,854.89 

2,809,973. 79 
2,231,151.44 

1,884,769.13 
1,900,450.19 

4, 309,198.21 

1856. 

<*$12,043,865.17 
20,105,746. 85 
18,587,648. 95 
15,660,172.63 
23,555,015.33 
12,270,796. 92 

1840 

1859. 

1842 

1862. 

1844 

1863. 

1846 . 

1869. 

1850. 

1872. 

1854. 




<* U. S. Currency. 


Internal debt of Venezuela from 1885 to 1893. —The following table 
compiled from the Venezuelan Yearbook for 1896, shows the amount 
of the internal debt which was in circulation in each of the years com¬ 
prised from 1885 to 1893: 


Y’ear. 

5 per cent 
consolidated 
internal debt. 

Year. 

5 per cent 
consolidated 
internal debt. 

1885 . 

<*$7,933,393 

7,857,826 

7,788,972 

7, 722,988 

7,684,316 

1890... 

« $7,626,013 
7,595,227 
7,646,542 
7,847,374 

1886 . 

1891. 

1887 . 

1892. 

1888. 

1893. 

1889. 



<* U. S. currency. 


Internal debt of Venezuela from 1894 to 1903.— The following table, 
compiled from the official reports of the Treasury Department (Min- 
isterio de Hacienda y Credito Publico) of Venezuela shows the amount 
of internal debt in circulation during each of the years comprised from 
1894 to 1903: 


Year. 

5 per cent 
consoli¬ 
dated in¬ 
ternal debt. 

Revolution 

debt. 

Floating 

debt. 

6 per cent 
internal 
debt. 

6 per cent 
consoli¬ 
dated in¬ 
ternal debt. 

Caracas 
water¬ 
works spe¬ 
cial debt. 

1 per cent 
bonds. 

1894. 

<f$7,878, 404 
7,983, 704 
2,558,861 
7,853 
2,418 
2,418 
2,223 
2,223 
b 2,442 

«*1,292,247 
861,331 
376,556 
125,540 
27,007 
23,127 
23,127 
23,127 
23,127 

<* $28,025 
7,859 
5,413 
1,617 

1.340 

1.341 
1,341 
1,341 
1,341 

<*$3,150,046 

"223,658' 
4.044 
2,873 
2,768 
2,618 
2,489 
b 6,591 



« $495,612 
396,092 
722, 698 

1895. 

<*$2,854,133 
732, 698 
12,674,588 
12,471,728 
12,315,318 
11,961,734 
11,961,734 
615,836,158 


1896 . 

1897 . 

«$2,158,439 
2,129,818 
2,113,033 
2,035, 039 
2,035,039 
2,035,039 
b 2, 726,956 

1898. 


1900. 


1901. 


1902. 


1903. 

(<0 



<* U. S. currency. 

b Capital and arrears of interest. 

c SI,122,275 are not included in this column. 
























































































EXTERNAL DEBT. 


419 


HISTORY OF THE EXTERNAL DEBT OF VENEZUELA, a 

1820. —At the time when its first foreign obligations were contracted 
Venezuela, with Ecuador, formed part of Colombia. In this year the 
Vice-President, Senor Zea, came to London and issued transferable 
debentures to the creditors of the Republic, bearing 8 per cent inter¬ 
est if paid in England and 10 per cent if paid in Colombia. This 
increased the debt to the amount of £547,783, for which debentures 
were issued. 

1822. —On March 13, 1822, Senor Zea contracted with Messrs. Her¬ 
ring, Graham & Powles for the emission of a loan of £2,000,000 at 80 
per cent, bearing 6 per cent interest. The object of the loan was to 
pay off the 1820 debentures, and to obtain funds for the prosecution 
of the war of independence. It was agreed that sufficient of the pro¬ 
ceeds should be left with the contractor for the payment of the first 
half-yearly coupons. Debentures and accumulated interest to the 
amount of £777,220 were paid off. The Colombian Congress disap¬ 
proved, by decree of July 7, 1823, Senor Zea’s action, because he had 
concluded his transactions in a definite manner without authority to 
do so. Later (in 1826) Congress acknowledged as public debt the 
£2,000,000 loan. 

1823. —On July 7, 1823, Congress authorized the Executive to raise 
a loan of 30,000,000 hard dollars, giving the revenue in general, and 
especially tobacco, as guaranty. 

1824. —On May 15, 1824, Messrs. B. A. Goldsmith & Co., of Ham¬ 
burg, engaged to place a loan of £4,750,000 issued at 85 per cent, 
bearing 6 per cent interest. Congress approved and ratified this loan 
by decree of May 4, 1825. The total indebtedness in i824 was 
£6,750,000. 

1825. —On March 8, 1825, the executive power issued a decree pro¬ 
viding to reserve in the custom-houses one-fourth of the net receipts 
to meet the requirements of the service of the debt. 

1826. —The house of Goldsmith & Co. was declared bankrupt on 
February 15, and the £350,000 deposited there to meet the payment 
of the dividends of the first loan were involved in the bankruptcy. 
Minister Hurtado appealed to the Mexican minister in London, Senor 
Rocafuerte, who was a Colombian, and received £63,000 from him 
without interest, on Ma}^ 6; 1826. Of this sum £61,500 were applied 
to pay the fourth dividend of the £2,000,000 loan. Mexico owed 
Colombia the expense incurred in 1824 and 1825 in outfitting a fleet to 
capture the San Juan de Ulloa fort. She also owed another debt 
which belongs mostly to Venezuela, arising out of a tax levied on each 
fanega (110 pounds) of cacao from Maracaibo and Guayaquil imported 
to Nueva Espaiia and paid at Vera Cruz. This tax was first levied in 


a Data from official publications of Venezuela. 






420 


VENEZUELA. 


September, 1793, and ceased in March, 1815, by virtue of the royal 
ordinance issued in 1814 by the Spanish Government. 

1831. —The Republic of Colombia was divided into three separate 
Republics, which were styled respectively New Granada, Ecuador, and 
Venezuela. 

DIVISION OF THE DEBT. 


1834. —A convention was drawn up on December 23, 1834, by which 
the debt of the former Republic of Colombia was apportioned in the 
following manner among the three Republics: 


Republic. 

Propor¬ 
tion of 
debt as¬ 
signed. 

Amount of 
principal 
assigned. 

Amount of 
interest as¬ 
signed. 

Total. 

New Granada. 

Per cent. 
50 
21 i 
28i 

a £3,312,975 
1,424,579 
1,888,396 

a £1,590, 228 
683, 798 
906,430 

a £4,903,203 
2,108,377 
2,794, 826 

Ecuador . 

Venezuela. 

Total. 

100 

6,625, 950 

3,180,456 

9,806,406 



a.85 taken as equal to the £. 


1834. —By the convention of 1834 Venezuela became responsible for 
28i per cent of the original Colombian debt, or £1,888,396, upon 
which the arrears of interest amounted to £906,430; total, £2,794,826. 

1840. —According to decree of September 16, 1840, a settlement was 
made on the following terms: 

The above principal of the debt to be converted at par into “active” 
bonds which were to bear interest at the rate of 2 per cent for the first 
seven years, increasing one-fourth of 1 per cent annually, until the 
maximum rate of 6 per cent should be attained. 

“Deferred” bonds to be issued in satisfaction of the arrears of 
interest to an amount equal to the original capital. These bonds were 
to carry interest from October 1, 1852, at 1 per cent for the first year, 
and to increase one-fourth of 1 per cent annually up to a maximum 
of 5 per cent, when a sinking fund of one-fourth of 1 per cent should 
also come into operation. 

£1,888,395 “active” and £1,888,395 “deferred” bonds were issued 
under the terms of this arrangement. On October 1, 1840, the first 
dividend ($118,024.74) was paid. “Active” bonds to the amount of 
£150,000 were subsequently issued in settlement of the “Macintosh 
claim,” bringing the total issue of these bonds to £2,007,159. 

1847. —Up to June 30, 1847, the interest on the external debt was 
punctually paid. Default took place in September because the funds 
of the Government had been involved in the bankruptcy, and the divi¬ 
dend of October could not be paid. The indebtedness of Venezuela 
was at the time $2,552,463. 

1848. —On March 15, 1848, Congress authorized the Executive to 
convert into 4 per cent per annum the interest of the active debt. 




















EXTERNAL DEBT 1851-1876. 


421 


1851. —An arrangement was agreed to by the bondholders, but it 
was not ratified by Congress, although the half-yearly coupon (£19,500), 
due October 1, 1851, was paid. 

1856. —Venezuela received, as the proportion of the debt clue from 
Peru to the old Colombian Republic, a sum of $1,140,000 in 4^ per 
cent. Peruvian bonds. ' 

1859. —On March 1,1859, the following arrangement was concluded: 

For the outstanding capital of the old u active” bonds and for the 

arrears of interest up to December 31, 1858,- on both “active” and 
u deferred” bonds new bonds were to be issued bearing 2£ per cent 
interest during the year 1859 and 3 per cent from January 1, 1860. 
Against the principal of the old ‘‘deferred” bonds other new bonds 
were to be issued bearing 1 per cent interest from January 1, 1859, 
to January 1, 1860, and thenceforth l-j- per cent. 

Holders of deferred bonds had, at the time of the conversion, the 
option of exchanging £100 bonds into £50 of the new 3 per cent bonds. 
After long discussion the bondholders agreed to receive 3 per cent 
bonds for arrears from 1840 to 1847 with a 2 per cent payment in cash 
on September, 1860. 

1860. —This agreement was approved on September 24, 1860, and 
according to the liquidation effected, the active debt amounted to 
$18,280,112.50, and the deferred debt to $8,985,275, giving an aggre¬ 
gate of $27,265,387.50. 

1862. —On July 1, 1862, an agreement was signed in London for the 
emission of a loan of £1,000,000, bearing 6 per cent interest per annum 
and 2 per cent sinking fund, secured upon 55 per cent of the import 
duties collected at La Guaira and Puerto Cabello. Said loan was 
issued at 63 per cent by Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co. 

1864. —In February, 1864, the representative of Venezuela contracted 
with the General Credit and Finance Company of London for the issue 
of a loan of £1,500,000, bearing 6 per cent interest per annum and 2 
per cent sinking fund, at 60 per cent of par, guaranteed by the 
export duties of La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Maracaibo, and Ciudad 
Bolivar. 

1872.— By a decree of November 30 it was provided that the customs 
receipts should be divided into 100 units, of which 60 were to be 
applied to the general budget and the remaining 40 as follows: 27 per 
cent (or 10.8) thereof to internal public credit, 27 per cent (or 10.8) to 
external public credit (to be retained by the treasury pending a new 
arrangement with the external bondholders), 33 per per cent (or 13.2) 
to internal development of the country, and 13 per cent (or 5.2) to 
foreign claims which have been duly admitted. 

1876.—A convention was concluded under which an annual sum of 
£40,000 was to be remitted. Three shillings on the pound were paid 
on coupons of all three loans from October, 1876. 


422 


VENEZUELA. 


1880-81. —The loans of 1859, 1862, and 1864 were converted into a 
“new consolidated debt." This arrangement provided for an issue of 
£4,000,000 new bonds, of which £2,750,000 were to be applied to the 
conversion of the above loans and the necessary expenses. The bal¬ 
ance of £1,250,000 was reserved for the unification of the then exist* 
ing internal debt. The 6 per cent external loans of 1862 and 1864 and 
the coupon stock of 1862 were converted, with arrears, at 60 per cent, 
and the 3 per cent and 1^ per cent bonds of 1859, respectively, at 30 
and 15 per cent, also including arrears. Interest on the new bonds to 
be 3 per cent per annum until the unification of the external and 
internal debts was completed, after which it was to be raised to 4 per 
cent on the whole debt. Owing to difficulties which arose with the 
internal bondholders the unification of the debt was not carried into 
effect. The issue was therefore confined to £2,750,000 bonds, and 
the rate of interest was not increased to 4 per cent. Under a decree 
of December 10, 1880, the 27 per cent of the 40 units of the customs 
receipts (i. e., 10.8 of the total customs revenue) assigned to the for¬ 
eign credit (see above decree of November 30, 1872) was directed to be 
integrally paid to the bondholders’ agents. This assignment has been 
renewed by subsecpient decrees. 

1883 and 1888. —Proposals were made to effect the unification scheme 
in these years, but were not carried into execution for several reasons. 

1889-1891. —The public debt of Venezuela was divided into four 
classes in 1889, viz, the domestic debt, the foreign debt, the debt by 
diplomatic treaties, and the bonds bearing 1 per cent monthly. 

The domestic debt amounted, July 1, 1889, to the sum of 
$7,402,892.49, which was reduced by cancellations in the fiscal year 
1889-90 in the sum of $48,349.53, leaving in circulation on July 1, 
1890, the amount of $7,354,542.96. The bonds of this debt were made 
to the bearer and drew 5 per cent annual interest, which was punctu¬ 
ally paid in monthly quotas. The interest disbursed by the Govern¬ 
ment on account of this debt during the fiscal year 1889-90 amounted 
to the sum of $369,072.58. The bonds were quoted at 47. 72 per cent 
in the market during the year 1891. 

The total amount of the foreign debt in circulation on July 1, 1889, 
was $12,978,709.20, which sum was reduced by the purchase of bonds 
during the fiscal year 1889-90 to the amount of $19,907.86, leaving 
the balance of $12,958,801.34 outstanding on July 1, 1890. This debt 
bore interest at the rate of 3 per cent per annum, for the payment of 
which there is delivered to the agents of the council of bondholders at 
the beginning of each month the amount of $34,216.63, or $410,599.56 
per annum. The excess, after the payment of interest, was deposited 
to the sinking fund. The bonds of this debt were quoted in the 
London market at 51 per cent. 


EXTERNAL DEBT 1889-1893. 


423 


The amount ot* diplomatic treaty debt actually in circulation was 
derived from the liquidation of amounts due to France and Spain and 
made b} r virtue of an executive resolution of August 5, 1887. There 
was in circulation on July 1 , 1889, of this debt, the amount of 
$866,397.50, afterwards increased by an emission of $76,920 in favor 
of Spain, to the sum of $943,317.15, of which $114,401.77 has been 
since canceled, and left the amount of $828,915.39 of this debt out¬ 
standing on July 1 , 1890. This debt bore interest at the rate of 3 per 
cent per annum, payable semiannually at the respective legations, and 
the balance of sums paid by the Government for this purpose, after the 
interest is paid, is applied to the cancellation of the bonds through 
periodical sales before the board of public credit. To attend to the 
obligations of this debt $83,170.81 taken from the 13 per cent of the 40 
units of customs revenues is annually paid out from the public treasury. 
The bonds were quoted at 45 per cent on the market in 1891. The 
amount held by the council of bondholders and legations on June 30, 
1890, for the balance of interest was $9,229.48, and the amount in their 
hands on the same date to be applied to the cancellation of the bonds 
was $93,519.44. 

The condition of the debt bearing 1 per cent monthly interest is 
as follows: There were issued on June 30, 1889, bonds of the sixth 
emission to replace those of the fifth emission to the amount of 
$189,159.33, with 10 per cent premium, $18,915.93, and a further 
emission of bonds to the amount of $565,549.93 for the satisfaction 
of claims, making a total of $773,625.19, from which was deducted 


the amount of cancellations of $126,363.42 efl'ected in the fiscal year 
1889-90, and of $64,714.36 realized from July to December of 1890, 
leaving the net balance of $582,547.41 of this debt in circulation on 
December 31, 1890. The interest on this debt was paid monthly at 
the Bank of Venezuela, in Caracas, and the cancellation of the bonds 
was made through bids of the Government at stated prices. These 
bonds were at times quoted above their par value. 

A summary of the total debt of Venezuela in 1891 presents the 
following results: 


Domestic debt (5 per cent consolidated). a $7, 595, 227 

Foreign debt (3 per cent external). 13,450, 675 

Diplomatic debt (13 per cent diplomatic). 1, 000, 238 

One per cent monthly debt. 647, 261 


Total.- - - - 22, 693, 401 

To discharge the obligations of this debt Venezuela had to appro¬ 
priate less than 14^ per cent of her revenues, as appears from her 
fiscal receipts. 

1892-83.—The Government, in consequence of an internal disturb¬ 
ance, temporarily suspended the service of the external debt. The 


a U. 8. currency. 










424 


VENEZUELA. 


remittances were resumed in June, 1893. For the coupons Nos. 24 
and 25, due February and August, 1893, certificates were issued 
redeemable at par b} T half-yearly drawings. The final amortization of 
these certificates took place in August, 1897. 

1896. —Congress authorized the issue of a loan in Europe for 
50,000,000 bolivars, the proceeds to be devoted to the liquidation of 
the railway guaranty in arrears, the redemption of the obligation to 
pay the same in the future, the acquisition of some of the railways if 
deemed desirable, and the completion of the Central Railway. The 
Disconto Gesellschaft, of Berlin, contracted for this loan, which was 
issued at 80 per cent. The bonds were to bear 5 per cent interest per 
annum and to be redeemed by a sinking fund of 1 per cent. Drawn 
bonds and coupons to be received at par in payment of customs duties. 
The loan was secured by a sufficient number of units of the national 
revenue to cover the annual service, amounting to 3,000,000 bolivars; 
and it was stipulated that no new loan might be contracted to which 
equal or greater rights were conceded without the amortization of this 
loan having previously been effected. Under a decree of May 16, 
1896, 11.12 units of the customs revenue were assigned to the service 
of this loan. The same decree renewed the assignment in favor of 
the 1881 loan mentioned above. 

A law was also passed for the conversion and consolidation of the 
various internal debts by the issue of 65,000,000 bolivars of bonds, 
bearing 6 per cent interest and 1 per cent sinking fund, interest to 
be paid monthly in Venezuela and in Europe. 

1897. —The Government failed to remit the funds required for the 
payment of the coupon due February 15, 1898, on the external debt of 
1881, and of that due June 30, 1898, on the 5 per cent loan of 1896. 

1898. —The Government proposed to pay off the arrears on the debt 
in bonds of a 9 per cent loan, secured on the salt monopol} r . This 
proj^osal was not proceeded with, so far as the external debt was 
concerned. 

1899. —A law was passed for the payment of the arrears in bonds of 
a 3 per cent loan, with 2 per cent amortization, secured on the general 
revenues and certain special taxes. This proposal was declined by the 
bondholders’ committee. In December the Disconto Gesellschaft paid 
26 per cent on account of the June, 1898, coupon of the 1896 loan. 

1900. —Five-sixths of the February, 1898, coupon of the 1881 loan 
was paid in March with funds received at intervals between July, 1897, 
and March, 1899. In December the Disconto Gesellschaft paid the 
balance of the June, 1898, coupon of the 1896 loan, and in the same 
month the Government resumed remittances at the rate of one-half of 
the full monthly installments. 

1901. —The balance of the February and one-half of the August, 
1898, coupons of the 1881 loan were paid in July. In December the 


WASHINGTON PROTOCOLS. 


425 


Disconto Gesellschaft paid 56 per cent of the December, 1898, coupon 
of the 1896 loan and a like percentage on the bonds drawn on Decem¬ 
ber 31, 1898, the sinking fund having been in suspense since that date. 

All remittances on the part of the Government ceased in August. 

1902-3.— Demands having been made upon Venezuela at the close of 
the year 1902 for compensation for losses sustained by foreign subjects 
in consequence of a revolution, and no definite arrangement having 
' been arrived at, the Governments of Great Britain, Germany, and 
Italy made a naval demonstration, which resulted in the blockade of 
the Venezuelan ports. On January 23, 1903, the representative of 
Venezuela at Washington informed the representatives of Great Britain, 
•Germany; and Italy that if the blockade were raised, Venezuela would 
set aside for the payment of “ all claims against Venezuela ” 30 per 
cent of the customs receipts at La Guaira and Puerto Cabello. 

The blockade was accordingly raised. Protocols were signed at 
Washington on February 13, 1903, by the representative of Venezuela 
and those of Great Britain, Germany, and Ital} 7 , providing for the 
settlement of all claims against Venezuela/ 

The Venezuelan Congress, on March 28, 1903, resolved to empower 
the Federal Executive to put the protocols into practice, with the pro¬ 
viso that none of their clauses should establish the least precedent in 
the political existence of the Republic. * 6 

The first obligation of said protocols consisted in paying a total 
compensation of $501,204, of which $344,753 was to go to Germany, 
$28,676 to Great Britain, and $27,775 to Italy. Venezuela duly com- 
plied with this obligation, and up to December 31, 1903, had handed to 
the agent at Caracas of the Bank of England the sum of $836,761, 
which is equivalent to the 30 per cent of the receipts of the custom¬ 
houses of La Guaira and Puerto Cabello, to be distributed among the 
claimant nations. 

The allies demanded that their claims should be paid before the 
claims of the peace powers. Venezuela’s representative declared that 
“all claims against Venezuela” included also those of all the peace 
powers. It was agreed to submit the question to The Hague Court of 
Arbitration, and protocols were signed to that effect by all the powers 
which had claims against Venezuela/ 

a See Appendix, pp. 585-591, for text of protocols. 

6 See Appendix, pp. 591-592, for text of Venezuelan Congress resolution. 

c See Appendix, pp. 592-598, for text of Hague protocols. 



426 


VENEZUELA. 


List of protocols signed.—The list of protocols signed for the settle¬ 
ment of claims against Venezuela is given in the following table: 


Name of claimant nation. 

Date of 
signature. 

Umpire to be selected by— 

Great Britain. . 

Feb. 13,1903 
Feb. 13,1903 
Feb. 13,1903 
Feb. 17,1903 
Feb. 23,1903 
Feb. 27,1903 

The President of the United States. 

Germany. 

The President of the United States. 

Italy. 

The President of the United States. 

United States. 

The Queen of the Netherlands. 

The King of Spain. 

The Queen of the Netherlands. 

The President of the United States. 

Mexico. 

France. 

The Netherlands. 

Feb. 28,1903 
Mar. 7,1903 
Mar. 10,1903 
Apr. 2,1903 

Belgium. 

The Queen of the Netherlands. 

The King of Spain. 

The President of Mexico. 

Sweden and Norway. 

Spain. 




Names of claimant nations. 

Protocol. 

.Date of 
signature. 

Venezuela and Italy . 

_ 

The Hague protocol. 

May 7,1903 
May 7,1903 
May 7,1903 

Venezuela and Great Britain. 

The Hague protocol. 

Venezuela and Germany. 

The Hague protocol. 




According to the terms of said protocols, mixed commissions met 
at Caracas on June 1, 1903, and gave awards on the claims submitted 
for adjustment. 

Amounts claimed and awarded.—The following table gives the amounts 
claimed and the sums awarded. It will be noticed that there is a 
great difference between the sums awarded and those claimed, and in 
the former is included what Venezuela owed for postal service. 


Claimant. 

Sum 

claimed. 

Sum 

awarded. 

Submitted to umpire. 

Great Britain. 


oSl,963,650 
418,381 
603,167 
2,179, 748 
533,507 
451,510 
108,860 
394, 963 
459,457 
34,143 

88,597,609 ( 8 claims). 

Germany. 

081,475,337 

Italy. 

Belgium. 

2,984, 361 
3,578,322 
588,876 
213,910 
1,061,525 
15, 723,081 

France . 

Mexico. 

Netherlands. 

Spain. 

United States. 

Sweden. 

Total.. 


7,147,386 




« U. S. currency, 

1904. —On February 22,1904, The Hague Arbitration Court gave its 
award in the case of the powers against Venezuela. The finding 
of the court was that the three blockading powers, Great Britain, Ger¬ 
many, and Italy, had a right to preferential treatment over other 
claimant nations with regard to the allotment of the 30 per cent of the 
customs receipts of La Guaira and Puerto Cabello, assigned by Vene¬ 
zuela for the payment of her foreign creditors. Each party was 
ordered to pay its own costs and an equal share of the costs incurred 
by the court." 

External debt of Venezuela from 1840 to 1872. —The following table, 
compiled from the official Report of Statistics of Venezuela for 1873, 
shows the amount of the foreign debt of Venezuela in each of the 
years comprised from 1840 to 1872: 

a See Appendix, pp. 598-602, for text of Hague award. 


























































PUBLIC DEBT 1885-1893. 


427 


v 

l ear. 

External debt. 

Year. 

External debt. 

1840 . 

a$23, 604,947.12 
21,569,400. 37 
20,962,212.87 
20,962,212.87 
21,820,009.29 
23,592,856.03 
25,351,169.23 

1859 

« $26,188,130.45 
29,105,169.10 
35,704,311.46 

45.728.466.23 

49.893.822.23 
56,558,391.83 

1842 . 

1862.. 

1844 . 

1863. 

1846 . 

1865 

1850 . 

1869.. 

1854 . 

1872. 

1856 . 




« One Venezolano taken as equal to the U. S. dollar. 

External debt of Venezuela from 1885 to 1893. —The following table, 
compiled from the Venezuelan Yearbook for 1896, shows the amount 
of external debt which was in circulation in each of the years comprised 
from 1885 to 1893: 


Year. 

3 per cent 
external 
debt. 

13 per cent 
diplomatic 
debt. 

Year. 

3 per cent 
external 
debt. 

13 per cent 
diplomatic 
debt. 

1885. 

«$13,547,887 
13,537,282 
13,512,830 
13,510,517 
13,498,377 


1890 . 

a $13, 477, 692 
13,450,675 
13,441,080 
13,429,465 

«$1,084,029 
1,000,238 
1,000,238 
995, 618 

1886. 


1891. 

1887.'.. 


1892 . 

1888. 

$1,014,545 

901,089 

1893 . 

1889. 




aU. S. currency. 

Public debt of Venezuela from 1894 to 1903. —The following table 
shows the amount of the public debt in circulation during each of the 
ten years comprised from 1894 to 1903, the data having been com¬ 
piled from the official reports issued by the treasury department 
(ministerio de hacienda y credito publico) of Venezuela: 

[Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar.] 


Debt. 

1894. 

1895. 

1896. 

1897. 

1898. 

INTERNAL. 

5 per cent consolidated internal debt.... 

Revolution debt. 

Floating debt. 

6 per cent internal debt. 

6 per cent consolidated internal debt.... 
Caracas waterworks special debt. 

1 npr pput hnnrifl 

$7,878,404 
1, 292,247 
28,025 
3,150,046 

495,612 

13,429,465 
854, 667 

$7, 983, 704 
861,331 
7,859 

2,854,133 

396,092 

13,383,357 
845,467 

$2,558,861 
376,556 
5.413 
223,658 
732,698 
2,158,439 
732,698 

13,362,340 
841,267 
10.000,000 

$7,853 
155, 540 
1,617 
4,044 
12,674,588 
2,129,818 

$2,418 
27,007 
1,340 
2,873 
12,471,*728 
2,113,033 

EXTERNAL. 

3 per cent external debt. 

13 per cent diplomatic debt. 

5 per cent Venezuelan debt, 1896. 

Total. 

13,338,060 
758,180 
9,898,800 

13,322, 913 
a 1,338,288 
9, 737,200 

27,128,466 

26,331,943 

38,724,673 

38, 958, 500 

39,016,800 


«The redemption of the diplomatic debt is effected by tenders. The considerable increase shown 
is due to the fact of the Government having handed over to the French legation “bonds” of this 
debt to an amount of nearly 4,500,000 bolivars in settlement of the Fabianiclaims. The total amount 
of the diplomatic debt outstanding Dec. 31, 1898, was distributed as follows: 


Germany 
Spain 
France... 


81,400 
410,963 
925,925 


Total 


1,338,288 


In 1903 the capital and arrears of interest of the diplomatic 

France. 

Spain... 

Netherlands. 


debt were distributed as follows: 


$1,410,600 
653,452 
200,000 


Total 


2,264,052 





























































































428 


VENEZUELA. 


Debt. 

1900. 

1901.« 

1902.& 

1903. 

INTERNAL. 





5 per cent consolidated 
internal debt. 

12.418 

$2,223 

$2,223 

« $2,442 

Revolution debt. 

23,127 

23,127 

23,127 

23,127 ! 

Floating debt. 

1,341 

1,341 

1,341 

1,342 

6 per cent internal debt. 
6 per cent consolidated 
internal debt. 

Caracas waterworks spe¬ 
cial debt. 

1 per cent bonds. 

2, 768 
12,315,31S 

2,035.039 

2,618 

11,961,734 

2,035,039 

2,489 
11,961,734 

2,035,039 

d 6,592 
c 15,836,158 

c 2,726,956 

(<0 

EXTERNAL. 




3 per cent external debt. 
13 per cent diplomatic 
debt. 

5 per cent Venezuelan 
debt, 1896. 

Dutch arrears of service. 

13,322,910 
1,285,864 

9,502,400 

13, 322,910 
1,239,513 

9,376,000 

^1,862 
9,318 

13,322,910 
1,230,078 

9,243,000 

« 15, 754,342 
c 2,264,052 

c12,310, 690 

Balance of convertible 




loans. 




Total. 

38,491,185 

37,975,685 

47,822,070 

d 48, 925,701 


How redeemed. 


By conversion into 6 per 
cent consolidated at 85 
per cent. 

By conversion into 6 per 
cent consolidated at 15 
per cent. 

By conversion into 6 per 
cent consolidated at par. 

Do. 

By tender. 

Do. 

Do. 


By purchase. 


By drawings. 


a No data available for 1899. Figures for 1901 include capital and arrears of service. 
b Capital outstanding and estimated arrears of service to Dec. 31, 1902. 
c Includes capital and arrears of interest. 

din circulation, §672,119; arrears of service, $450,156 on Dec. 31, 1903, are not included in the total 
indebtedness. 
e Arrears of service. 


PUBLIC DEBT IN 1901. 

The following table, abridged from a statement contained in the 
report of the minister of finance, shows the official estimate of the 
outstanding capital of the public debt on December 31, 1901: 


Capital outstanding. 

Loans: 

External. <*$23, 949, 603 

Internal. 14,026,082 

Total. 37,975,685 


The above statement does not include the 1 per cent bonds and the 
general arrears of service, the salt bonds, and the outstanding balance 
to the Bank of Venezuela, which form the total liabilities of Venezuela. 

Sums paid for the service of the Venezuelan debts from January 1 to December 31, 1901. & 

SUMMARY. 


For internal debt. <*$106,232 

For 3 per cent external debt. 147, 736 

For foreign claims. 67, 300 

For 5 per cent Venezuelan debt (1896). 210,156 


Total. 531,424 


a Five bolivars have been taken as the equivalent to the United States dollar. 
b Report of Minister of Finance, 1902, p. 55. 








































PUBLIC DEBT. 


429 


PUBLIC DEBT IX 1902. 

The statement of the public debt of Venezuela in 1902, is as follows: 


INTERNAL. 

5 per cent consolidated internal debt. $ 2 , 223 

Revolution debt. 23,127 

Floating debt. i 341 

6 per cent internal debt. 2,489 

8 per cent consolidated internal debt. 11,961, 868 

Waterworks. 2,035,039 


Total. 24,026,082 

EXTERNAL. 

3 per cent external debt. 13, 322,910 

13 per cent diplomatic debt. 1,230, 078 

5 per cent Venezuelan debt (1896). 9, 243, 000 


Total. 23,795,988 

SUMMARY. 

Internal debt. 24, 026, 082 

External debt. 23, 795, 988 


Total. 47,822,070 


PUBLIC DEBT IX 1903. 


The statement of the public debt of Venezuela in 1903 is as follows: 



Bolivars. 

United States 
equivalent. 

Internal debt. 

70,130,422.04 
22,852,666.03 

a $14,026, 084.40 
4,570, 533.32 

Interest outstanding. 

Total. 

External debt... 

92,983,088.67 

18,596,613. 72 

125,363,494.86 
26,281,926.22 

25,072,698.97 
5,256,385.24 

Interest, outstanding. 

Total. 

151,645,421.08 

30,329,084.29 



SUMMARY OF DEBTS. 


Public debt ....... 

195,493,916.90 
49,134,592.85 

a $39,098, 783.38 
9, 826,918. 57 

Interest outstanding’ .......... 

Total indebtedness.......... 

244,628, 509. 75 

48,925,701.95 



a Five bolivars taken as equivalent to the United States dollar. 

INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT.« 


As a consequence of the blockade, and according to the protocols 
signed in Washington on Februar}^ 13, 1903, the Government has paid 


the following sums: 

To Mr. H. W. Bowen. & $5, 000 

To the British Government (£5,500). 28, 676 

To the German legation. 344, 753 

To the Italian legation. 2 /, 775 

To the Venezuelan members of mixed commission. 17,803 


aMemoria de Hacienda of Venezuela, 1904, pages xi to xv. 
& United States currency. 
























































430 


VENEZUELA. 


To the different umpires. $62,162 

Venezuela’s share of Hague tribunal expenses. 4, 500 

To the agent of the Bank of England 30 per cent on custom receipts, ac¬ 
cording to protocols, from March to December, 1903c. 836, 761 

Sundry disbursements. 3, 624 

Total. <*1,331,054 

EXTRAORDINARY WAR TAX. & 


The 30 per cent of the La Guaira and Puerto Cabello customs receipts 
being appropriated according to article 5 of the Washington protocols 
of February 13, 1903, the Executive established the extraordinary war 
tax on February 16 of said year. It has produced from the latter 
month to December, 1903, $1,952,034. Of this amount $344,753 were 
paid to the German legation; $27,775 to the Italian legation; $75,631 
to the French legation; $62,441 for umpire’s fees in mixed commissions; 
$93,400 for special settlement of certain claims, and the balance was 
applied to other purposes. 

BANKING. 

Circulation banks.—All business houses of importance established in 
Venezuela carry on domestic and foreign banking operations, but the 
greater part of such transactions is effected through three institu¬ 
tions, viz, the Bank of Venezuela, the Bank of Caracas, and the Bank 
of Maracaibo, which are at present circulation banks and will cease to 
issue bank notes as soon as the “Banco Nacional de Venezuela” is 
established. 

There exist also a loan bank (Monte de Piedad) with its annexed 
savings bank at Caracas, savings banks (2) at Maracaibo, and one at 
Tariba. 

According to the new banking law in force, April 18, 1904, there 
shall be established, besides the deposit, draft, loan, and discount 
banks, a national issue bank, and a mortgage credit bank governed by 
special laws. The issue, deposit, draft, lean, and discount bank called 
u Banco Nacional de Venezuela” is established b}^ decree of Congress 
dated April 18, 1904, with headquarters at Caracas and the necessary 
agencies throughout the Republic. 

BANCO NACIONAL DE VENEZUELA. 

Capital.—The capital of this bank is fixed at $5,000,000 (25,000,000 
bolivars) divided in 500-bolivar shares. The Government may sub¬ 
scribe totally or in part the capital of the bank, offer a portion of the 
shares for domestic or foreign subscription, or contract the establish¬ 
ment of the bank with a private person or company. Thirty per cent 
of the shares must be subscribed and paid in and the rest available on 
the director’s demand. The bank is entitled to begin business as soon 
as it has in vault 20 per cent of its capital. 


a United States currency. 

^ Memoria de Hacienda of Venezuela, 1904, pages xi to xv. 












Handbook of Venezuela. 



FEDERAL PALACE (NORTHWEST CORNER), CARACAS. 
(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 































BANK OF VENEZUELA. 


431 


Guaranty and reserve funds.—The bank shall always have in hand a 
guaranty fund of 20 per cent of its capital and 10 per cent of the net 
profit as reserve fund. 

Transactions.—The bank may carry on all banking transactions, 
excepting those of mortgage credit, and the Government may grant 
to the bank the collection of the public revenue. 

Bank-note issue.—It shall have the exclusive privilege to issue bank 
notes for a sum equal to the amount of its capital, and the lowest 
bank-note value shall be 20 bolivars ($4) and the highest 1,000 bolivars 
($200). These notes are exchangeable on demand for cash; the gen¬ 
eral public is not compelled to receive them, but the Government shall 
accept them in payment of national dues, taxes, and duties. 

Duration.—The bank is established for a term of twenty-five years, 
during which the Government shall not grant equal, better, or con¬ 
trary concessions to other banks. Regarding the other rights and 
obligations, the bank is governed by stipulations similar to the pro¬ 
visions of the new banking law. 

BANK OF VENEZUELA. 

Capital.—This institution commenced business as a joint-stock com¬ 
pany with a capital of 12,000,000 bolivars ($2,500,000 United States 
currency), and was established on March 24, 1882, under the name of 
the u Commercial Bank,” by some merchants of Caracas. During the 
first year its operations were purely commercial, but since T883 the 
Government intrusted it with the treasury service and since then it 
has never ceased to be a state as well as a commercial bank. It was 
transformed in 1890 into the Bank of Venezuela, first with a capital of 
$1,600,000 and then of $3,000,000, and in August, 1899, it was recon¬ 
stituted, with a capital of 12,000,000 bolivars ($2,500,000), divided 
into 506 nominal shares of 20,000 bolivars ($4,000) and 940 nominal 
coupons of 2,000 bolivars ($400), subscribed in the country by native 
and foreign merchants. 

Three-fourths of the capital, $1,600,000, has been paid in and there 
has been no call for the last fourth. The reserve fund on December 
31,1903, was $124,455 and the total activity of the banking transactions 
$4,607,163, although it had in circulation but $191,318 in bank notes. 

Management.—The bank has a committee of five directors, one of 
whom is elected chairman every year by the general assembly of stock¬ 
holders. 

Agencies.—The bank's headquarters are at ( aracas and it has 14 
agencies, established at Da Guaira, Puerto Cabello,\ alencia, Maracaibo, 
Coro, San Cristobal, Barcelona, Cumana, Carupano, Porlamar, Juan 
Griego, Guiria, Matunn, and Ciudad Bolivar. 

Nature of transactions.—The bank derives its principal profit from 
being the agent of the Government, with which it has entered into an 
agreement to collect and disburse throughout the Republic the moneys 


432 


VENEZUELA. 


of the Government, for which the bank is paid a 2 per cent commission. 
It opened to the Government a current account credit of $1,500,000, 
on which it charges 8 per cent interest per annum. On December 31, 
1903, the balance outstanding in this regard was $300,000. It may 
cease to be the Government's agent on the establishment of the 4 * Banco 
Nacional de Venezuela." 

Bank note issue.—The value of the bank notes issued by the bank 
has never reached $400,000, although, according to the banking law in 
force, it is entitled to issue bank notes for $3,200,000, which is double 
the paid-up capital. On December 31, 1903, it had $191,318 bank 
notes in circulation and $6,582 bank notes on hand. According to 
article 18 of the new banking law enacted on April 18,1904, this bank 
will cease to issue bank notes and withdraw them from circulation 
within one year of the establishment of the national issue bank 
called “ Banco Nacional de Venezuela" (capital, $5,000,000). 

Current accounts.—The bank opens accounts and charges 12 per cent 
interest per annum, with half yearly settlements. 

Discounts.—All credit documents presented for discount must bear 
at least two signatures, unless they are bills of exchange, in which 
case the signature of the drawer and that of the negotiator are 
sufficient. 

Dividends.—This bank pajus an average dividend of 12 per cent per 
annum. 

% 

Balance sheet.—The following table gives the balance sheet of the 
Bank of Venezuela drawn on December 31, 1903: 

BANK OF VENEZUELA. 

[Joint-stockc ompany. Capital, 12,000,000 bolivars.] 

Balance on December 31, 1903. 


Accounts. 


Debit. 


Stock. 

Cash. 3,184,591.31 

Notes. 32,910.00 


Agencies (cash). 

Notes delayed. 25,764.92 

Notes on hand. 937,392.68 

Bills of exchange ... 604,026.52 

Securities. 722,000.00 


Bills receivable. 

Sundry loans. 

Foreign accounts.*. 

Real estate. 

Bank building. 

Furniture. 

Furniture in agencies. 

Deposit of salt certificates. 

Deposit of postage stamps. 

Stamps contractor. 

G. Amsinck & Co. (coinage of sil¬ 
ver) . 

Silver coinage. 

Operations in suspense. 

Total. 


Bolivars. 

3,000,000.00 


3,217, 501.31 
971,350.18 


2,289,184.12 
8,450.05 
4,975,288.83 
2,222,166.66 
16,265.95 
200,000.00 
26,519.70 
8,343.71 
1,190,500.00 
3,820,232.55 
619, 754. 20 

63,145.37 
403,278.68 
3,837.13 


23,035,815.44 
« 84,607,163. 08 


Accounts. 


Capital. 

Dividends. 

Guaranty fund. 

Bank notes in circula¬ 
tion . 956,590 

Bank notes on hand .... 32,910 


Current accounts overdrawn 
Administration of salt mines 

Profit and loss. 

Service of the special emission 

(salt-mine guaranty). 

Special certificates emission.... 

Special certificates service. 

Reserve fund. 

National Government 30per cent 
import duties of maritime cus¬ 
tom-houses of La Guaira and 

Puerto Cabello. 

War-tax product. 

Stamps account in suspense .... 
interest in suspense. 


Total 


Credit. 


Bolivars. 

12,000,000.00 
11,140.00 
200,000.00 


989,500.00 
1,565,064.28 
70,520. 65 
420,000.00 

89,931.50 
1,211,625.00 
66,551. 75 
722,375.97 


522,747.35 
724,206. 64 
4,439,986.75 
2,165.55 


23,035,815.44 
a $4,607,163.08 


«5 bolivars taken as equal to the United States dollar. 





























































BANK OF CARACAS. 


433 


BANK OF CARACAS. 


Capital.—This bank is a joint-stock company with a capital of 
0,000,000 bolivars ($1,200,000). It was established in 1890, and is 
exclusively a commercial bank. Its capital of $1,200,000, of which 
three-quarters have been paid in, is divided into 600 nominal shares 
of 10,000 bolivars each, and has been subscribed by merchants residing’ 
in the country. The reserve fund on December 31, 1903, was $94,024 
and the guaranty fund $75,000. 

Management.—The bank's affairs are managed by five directors, 
elected for two years by the general assembly of stockholders. A 
manager attends to the daily transactions. 

Agencies.—Caracas is the headquarters of the bank and it has agen¬ 
cies in La Guaira, Carupano, Barcelona, Ciudad Bolivar, Puerto 
Cabello, Coro, and Maracaibo, and in other cities it makes use of the 
agencies of the Bank of Venezuela. 

Bank-note issue.—This bank is entitled to issue $2,400,000 in bank 
notes, but only in 1892, which was a year of very great commercial 
activity, did the bank notes reach this amount. On December 31,1903, 
the bank notes in circulation amounted to $157,796, and those on hand 
to $2,404, giving an aggregate of $160,200 in bank notes. According to 
article 18 of the new banking law in force, April 18, 1904, this bank 
ceases to issue bank notes and must withdraw those in circulation 
within one year of the establishment of the National Issue Bank 
decreed hy Congress on April 18, 1904, called 44 Banco Nacional de 
Venezuela.” 

Current accounts.—The bank opens current accounts with or without 
guaranty and charges 12 per cent interest per annum with half-yearly 
settlements as a general rule, but with power to close any account fif¬ 
teen days after having served notice to that effect. 

Discounts.—The balance sheets, published by the bank, do not show 
the detail of the discount operations or the average exchange. The 
bank undertakes the collection of drafts drawn against persons resid¬ 
ing in Venezuela. For drafts on Caracas the bank charges 14 per 
cent commission, and for those on other points of Venezuela 2£ per 
cent. The bank very seldom undertakes to carry out protests on non- 
accepted drafts and does not take charge of collecting documentary 
drafts which may involve the necessity to receive merchandise in pa\ T - 
ment or become consignees of goods. 

Loans.—The bank, according to its by-laws, can loan money for the 
term of six months with guaranties such as State, or private bonds, 
drafts with three well-known signatures, and sometimes goods on 
which sums are advanced in the form of warrants. 

The Bank of Caracas is purely a commercial bank. The total activity 
of its transactions on December 31, 1903, amounted to $4,222,000. 


4a—04- 


-28 



434 


VENEZUELA. 


Since November 12, 1901, the Bank of Caracas has added to its busi¬ 
ness that of a savings bank annex, which is in operation. 

Dividends.—The bank has paid since it was established an average 
dividend of 8 per cent per annum. 

Balance sheet.—The following table gives the balance sheet of the 
Bank of Caracas drawn on December 31, 1903: 

BANK OF CARACAS. 

[Joint-stock company. Capital, 6,000,000 bolivars.] 

Balance on December 31 , 1903. 


Accounts. 


Debit. 


Vault: 


Bolivars. 


Cash. 1,116,734.25 

Notes. 12,020.00 


Securities. 

Current accounts overdrawn 

Securities on hand. 

Bills receivable. 

Exchange . 

Securities in vault. 

Mortgage bonds. 

Redemption accounts. 

Real estate. 

Foreign accounts. 

Suspended operations. 

Securities receivable. 

Deposit of securities. 

Furniture. 


Bolivars. 
1,128,754.25 
1,500,000.00 
1,654,908. 20 
893,295.10 
245,136. 45 
79,103.50 
78,315.00 
1,539,536.35 
440, 768.25 
1,400,850.80 
798,353.45 
472,993. 40 
439,325. 40 
10, 404,660.75 
34,000.00 


General expense 


Total 


21,110,000.90 
a f4,222,000.18 


Accounts. 


Credit. 


Capital. 

Reserve fund. 

Guaranty fund. 

Dividends (not recovered). 

Notes: Bolivars. 

On hand(bank notes) 12,020 
Circulation. 788,980 


Current accounts overdrawn 

Taxes. 

Amount collected. 

Employees’ fund. 

Depositors. 

Commission. 

Profit and loss. 

Discounts. 


Bolivars. 
6,000,000.00 
470,122.50 
375,000. 00 
6,287. 50 


801,000.00 
1,498,506.15 
877,759.15 
81,171.45 
1,300.00 
10,404,660.75 
439,325.40 
116,987.00 
37, 881. 00 


Total 


21,110,000. 90 
a $4,222,000.18 


«5 bolivars taken as equal to the United States dollar. 


THE BANK OF MARACAIBO. 

Capital.—This bank is a joint-stock company with a capital of 
1,250,000 bolivars ($250,000). It was established at Maracaibo in 
1889 with local capital. Only three-quarters of the capital has been 
called in. The profit reserve of the bank on December 31, 1903, was 
$19,344, and the total activity of the banking transactions on the same 
date $736,273. 

Management.—The bank is managed by three principal and three 
acting managers; hy five principal and five acting members of the 
Assembty of Delegates; by two principal and two acting commission¬ 
ers, and by one principal and one acting auditor. 

Nature of transactions.—The local nature of this bank confines its 
operations principally to discounting bills with at least two signatures, 
and to current accounts, although, in a lesser degree, the bank loans 
money on real estate, sells drafts on foreign countries, and issues 
bank notes. 

Bank-note issue.—This bank is entitled to issue bank notes to the 
amount of $500,000, and according to the balance sheet published on 

















































BANK OF MARACAIBO. 


435 


December 31, 1903, it had only $76,958 of bank notes on hand and 
$298,042 in circulation, which give a total issue of $375,000 of bank 
notes. According to article 18 of the new banking law in force, April 
18, 1904, this bank ceases to issue bank notes, and must withdraw 
those in circulation within one year of the establishment of the 
National Issue Bank decreed by Congress on April 18, 1904, called 
u Banco Nacional de Venezuela.” 

Dividends.—The bank paid on June 30, 1903, a dividend of $5.30 on 
each share, which is equivalent to 14.13 per cent per annum. 

Balance sheet.—The following table gives the balance sheet of the 
bank of Maracaibo, drawn on December 31, 1903: 

BANK OF MARACAIBO. 

[Joint stock company. Capital, 1,250,000 Bolivars.] 

Balance December 31, 1903. 


Debit. 


Credit. 


Stock. 

Vault cash.. 

Bank notes. 

Bills receivable.. 
Current accounts 
Draft remittances 

Real estate. 

Bills of exchange 
Furniture. 


Bolivars. 
550, 736. 42 
384,790.00 


Bolivars. 
312,500.00 


935,526. 42 
1,278,144.80 
733,776.30 
321,752.63 
40,000.00 
54,723.10 
4,933.66 




Bolivars. 


Capital. 937,500 

Reserve capital. 312,500 

Bank notes on hand. 384,790 


Bank notes in circulation. 1,490,210 


Profit reserve. 

Guaranty of former issue. 

Deposits. 

Deposits at sight. 

Current accounts overdrawn. 

Dividends unclaimed. 

Profits to be distributed among 
shareholders. 


Bolivars. 


1,250,000.00 


1,875,000.00 
96,723.20 
8,800. 00 
298,641.16 
67,270.68 
12,884.67 
3,662.20 

68,375. 00 


Total 


3,681,356. 91 
a $736,273.38 


Total 


3,681,356.91 
a $736,273.38 


a Five bolivars taken as equal to the U. S. dollar. 


The foregoing statements show that the credit transactions in 
Venezuela are analogous to those carried into execution by similar 
institutions in the United States of America and Europe. Banking 
legislation is framed on the lines of that of the United States of 
America; but the circulation of bank notes is very limited, due to the 
natural dislike of the Venezuelan people for paper money even when 
perfectly guaranteed, as is the case with the bank notes of the institu¬ 
tions taken into consideration. This is the principal guaranty against 
the establishment of paper money and one of the reasons why Vene¬ 
zuela has always had the gold standard, which, moreover, is a consti¬ 
tutional provision. 

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT. 


The agricultural credit in Venezuela lacks development. The coun¬ 
try is essentially agricultural, and nevertheless the owner of rural 
property, who desires to mortgage it, finds it difficult to obtain the 







































436 


VENEZUELA. 


loan because the existing commercial banks very seldom do this class 
of business. Sometimes a private individual consents to do it, and 
generally the large export houses who buy the crops take the mort¬ 
gage of the property and charge 12 per cent interest per year, which 
is a ruinous proposition for the rural owner. Many attempts have 
been made toward establishing the much-needed agricultural banks, 
but none is in existence at present. The new banking law, enacted 
on April 18, 1904, and of which the full text is given hereunder, pro¬ 
vides, however, for the establishment of a mortgage credit bank 
which shall be governed by a special law. 

NEW BANKING LAW. 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Article 1. Deposit, draft, loan, and discount banks may be estab¬ 
lished in Venezuela. 

There shall also be established a national-issue bank and a mortgage- 
credit bank, which shall be governed by special laws. 

Art. 2. Banks are mercantile establishments, and their acts shall be 
subject to the code of commerce and to the provisions of the present 
law. 

Art. 3. Deposit, draft, loan, and discount banks may be established 
without restriction like any other commercial establishment, by one 
person, by a company as a joint firm, as single silent partners, or by 
shares and joint-stock companies. 

Art. 4. For the purposes of the national statistics, all persons or 
commercial houses which are habitually engaged in banking business 
of this kind shall give notice thereof to the authority whose duty it is 
to issue the industrial licenses of the locality. 

Art. 5. Shares of banks may be attached or even sold by decision 
of a court of justice, but not to the extent of withdrawing its value, 
but to consider the net amount remaining in the bank in favor of the 
defendant as belonging to the purchaser who substitutes the share¬ 
holder. 

Art. 6. The above-mentioned banks, in order to be legally estab¬ 
lished, shall comply with the following formalities: (1) Fifteen da}^s, 
at least, before the date fixed for the installation of the bank they 
must deliver at the fomento department an authentic copy of the con¬ 
tract, which the person or company who desires to establish it should 
previously make, and have the same recorded in the registry office of 
the district in the jurisdiction of which its headquarters are to be situ¬ 
ated. The said deed shall contain the name and denomination of the 
bank; the class to which it belongs, the cash capital with which it will 
be formed; the manner and time in which that capital has to be paid 
up; the object proposed; the place of the mercantile domicile of the 
bank; the number of branches and agencies which the bank is to have, 


NEW BANKING LAW. 


437 


stating the functions, capital, and residence of each of them, and, 
finally, the time for which the bank is established. (2) They shall like¬ 
wise submit to the said department a copy of the rules and by-laws 
which they have adopted for the interior government and management 
of the bank. (3) If the bank is constituted by a commercial company, 
it shall deliver, together with the preceding documents, an authentic 
copy of the deeds for the formation of the said company. 

Art. 7. If the documents mentioned in the preceding article are 
in accordance with the law, the National Executive shall order the 
license to be issued to the bank, and the same shall be signed and coun¬ 
tersigned by the minister of fomento and.shall be registered and imme¬ 
diately published in the tribunal of commerce within the jurisdiction 
of which the said bank is located. 

Art. 8 . The banks referred to in the present law shall have the fol¬ 
lowing duties: 

1. To publish monthly, through the press, the balance sheet taken 
from their books, which shall clearly set out the total value of the 
specie in vault, specifying the quantities in gold and silver of which it 
is composed; the amount and nature of the deposits, if there are an} r ; 
and of the promissory notes and commercial bonds in their possession, 
stating the time they are due, distinguishing those liable to be paid, 
those overdue, and those liable to remain unpaid, of all of which a 
separate account shall be kept. 

The three banks to which article 18 refers, during the term allowed 
to withdraw their bank notes, shall also state the amount of those in 
hand and those in circulation. 

2. To likewise publish, through the press, the minutes of the general 
boards and transmit information to the fomento department of any 
alterations that may have been effected in the by-laws, which must be 
approved by the Government. 

Art. 9. Banks shall form a guaranty fund with a part of their cap¬ 
ital and shall set apart at least 10 per cent of their net profit to form 
the reserve fund. 

Art. 10. The banks shall have their headquarters, domicile, and 
central office in the city where the principal establishment of their 
business is situated. 

Art. 11. The above-mentioned banks may establish other branches 
or agencies besides those mentioned in the deed under which they are 
established, on giving notice to the National Executive through the 
fomento department. 

Art. 12. Any bank which shall lose half of its capital shall imme¬ 
diately go into liquidation, unless its partners, shareholders, or other 
persons reconstitute the original capital. The creditors of or debtors 
to the bank shall not be admitted as new partners in the reorganiza¬ 
tion of the institution. 


438 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 13. Any bank violating the provisions contained in articles 6, 
8, and 12 of this law shall be deprived of the license which the Na¬ 
tional Executive may have issued to it, and its main and branch offices 
shall be closed. „ The Government shall proceed in these cases sum¬ 
marily, through the fomento department, after the violation has been 
fully established. 

Art. 14. The promoters, directors, or agents of the banks who 
should make false declarations in the documents which the} r are 
obliged to lay before the Government according to article 6, and 
those who should publish false data and reports for the purpose of 
complying with the provisions of article 8, shall be sued criminally as 
guilty of fraud, and the banks in which the said offenses have been 
committed shall be closed, as provided in the preceding article. 

Art. 15. Directors and managers who distribute false dividends as 
clearances shall be punished as impostors, and those who conceal the 
real profit of the bank and distribute smaller dividends shall be con¬ 
sidered as committing theft. 

Art. 16. Besides the penalties provided by article 761 of the code 
of commerce, directors, agents, partners, or employees who by their 
deceitful or guilty acts occasion the failure of a bank shall be pun¬ 
ished as fraudulent bankrupts. 

Art. 17. The penalties established in the foregoing articles do not 
prevent anyone who may have suffered loss through the denounced 
violations from exercising the right of claiming compensation from 
the violator for loss and damage. Responsibility may be made effective 
solidarily against those that may appear culpable. 

Art. 18. The three banks existing in the Republic, namely, the 
Venezuela, Caracas, and Maracaibo banks, which on their being estab¬ 
lished were issue and circulation banks, shall not make any more issues 
of bank notes, but those alread} 7 issued ma} 7 remain in circulation 
during one year, to be reckoned from the day on which the national 
bank of issue shall be established, and time granted to totally with¬ 
draw them. 

Art. 19. The National Executive shall make rules and regulations 
for the working of the present law. % 

Art. 20. The law of April 16, 1903, is hereb} 7 repealed. 

Done in the Legislative Palace of Caracas on April 16, 1904. 
Ninety-third year of the Independence and forty-sixth of the Fed¬ 
eration. The president of the Senate. Santiago Briceno. The 
president of the Chamber of Deputies. Jose Ignacio Lares. Federal 
Palace of Caracas, April 18, 1904. Ninety-third year of the Inde¬ 
pendence and forty-sixth of the Federation. Be it enacted. Cipriano 
Castro. Countersigned: The minister of fomento. R. Garbiras 
Guzman. 


GOLD STANDARD. 


439 


CURRENCY. 


Values based on gold.—All values in Venezuela are based and com¬ 
puted on gold. Gold of all nations since 1871 is authorized to 
circulate but as a commodity, at a fixed and unalterable price. 

Silver currency at par.—Silver currency of any foreign country is 
forbidden circulation since 1886, but that of Venezuela is, and has 
always been, on a parity with its gold, and is accepted as part of 
payments of dues on public and private transactions without the 
least loss or decline in value. This is due to the fact that at present 
and never before has silver been coined or offered in Venezuela in 
excess of its demand as a circulating medium or of the Government’s 
ability to redeem it at par in gold. 

Bank notes guaranteed.—The only paper money in circulation is 
bank notes issued now b}^ the Venezuela, Caracas, and Maracaibo 
banks, but which are only to be issued by the Banco Nacional de 
Venezuela on its establishment; but the Government is not respon¬ 
sible for them, and their acceptance is not compulsory. The issue 
of bank notes is limited and perfectly guaranteed. 

Soundness of the monetary system.—The monetary system of Vene¬ 
zuela is absolute^ based on gold. Silver and bank notes exchange 
at par with gold, and there never has circulated before, nor is there 
in circulation at present, any depreciated fiduciary currency of any 
kind whatever. Therefore the gold-basis system is in no way nom¬ 
inal or fictitious, but perfectly sound, which circumstance places 
Venezuela in a unique position in this regard among all the Latin- 
American republics. 

Gold standard.—The regulation of the standard, value, fineness, 
weight, and coinage of national gold and silver coins, gold being tlie 
monetary standard , and the decision regarding the admission and cir¬ 
culation of foreign gold currency, which is and shall be free in Vene¬ 
zuela, are fixed by Congress according to powers vested in it by 
article 52, paragraph 7, of Section V of the constitution. 

Paper money not legal tender.—Neither the legislative nor the execu¬ 
tive power nor any authority of the Republic shall issue paper money 
in any case or under any circumstances whatever, nor declare as legal 
tender any kind of bank notes nor any value represented on paper, nor 
allow the importation into Venezuela of any foreign or national cur¬ 
rency but that of gold coins. 

Congress decrees coinage.—Only Congress can sanction the coinage 
or importation of silver or nickel currency by the Government of the 
nation. Congress shall in no case authorize the coinage or importa¬ 
tion of any sums which shall make the total silver currency in circu¬ 
lation exceed 8 bolivars ($1.60) and the nickel 1 bolivar (19 cents) per 
head of inhabitants according to the census legally in force. 


440 


VENEZUELA. 


Currency per unit of population.—The gold and silver currency circu¬ 
lation in Venezuela at present is estimated at the rate of $8 in gold 
currency and $1.25 in silver currency per unit of population according 
to the latest data available. This exceptionally favorable circumstance 
needs no comment. 

HISTORY OF VENEZUELAN CURRENCY.^ 

FROM 1498 TO 1820. 

1498 - 1776 .—The aborigines of America did not understand the use 
of currency, for they bartered onl} T . Spanish currency was introduced 
in Venezuela in 1498 by Columbus. When the Venezuelan island of 
Cubagua was inhabited, Spanish money circulated, and pearls Avere 
accepted as legal tender for Spanish commodities. Gold dust and 
grains of gold from the mines in the mainland were also used as cur¬ 
rency, and even cacao grains were used as such. When Spain inter¬ 
dicted the expor tation of her currency to America silver money, called 
macuqumo , of several denominations was introduced and increased in 
quantity, especially during the epoch of the Guipuzcoan Company 
(1728-1776), but was gradually withdrawn from circulation. In the 
latter part of the eighteenth century besides Spanish gold there was 
a considerable amount of Mexican and New Granadan currency in 
circulation. 

1780 .—In 1780 small copper, lead, and tin coins were put into local 
circulation by merchants. 

1809 - 1812 .—In 1809 there was already a royal mint in Caracas. One 
of the first steps of the Republican government was to create Vene¬ 
zuelan currency, which made its appearance in 1812. 

1814 - 1820 .—In 1814 silver was coined for the patriots in the Caracas 
mint. From 1817 to 1820 both the royalists and the patriots had small 
coins minted, and when the Republic was definitely established, in 1821, 
new silver currency was put into circulation. 

FROM 1821 TO 1827. 

After the independence, during the Colombian period, currenc}^ of 
all European countries was allowed to circulate at a given standard 
price. 

1821 .—On September 29, 1821, the Colombian Congress issued a law 
regulating gold, silver, and copper currency. Similar legislation was 
enacted in 1826 and 1827. 

1827 .—In 1827 better machinery was adopted in the mints of Bogota 
and Popayan, and the currency issued by these mints circulated in 
Venezuela. 


a Abstract of M. Landaeta-Rosales’s JRiqueza Circulante, 1903. 






HISTORY OF CURRENCY. 


441 


FROM 1830 TO 1869. 


i 


1830 . —The Constituent Congress of Venezuela on July 5, 1830, 
nterdicted the coinage of silver money, which was being carried out 


at the time at Caracas. 


1834 . —On May 13, 1834, Congress allowed the Spanish silver dollars 
and the Spanish gold ounces , as well as the silver and gold pieces and 
fractionary coins of the new American republics of the same weight and 
fineness as the first mentioned, to be accepted at a fixed price in all 
bureaus of Venezuela. The United States dollar and its fractions, 
French (5-franc piece), English (1 shilling), Portuguese and Brazilian 
(1 peso) money were also accepted at a stated price, and the Executive 
was empowered to coin in the United States and put into circulation in 
Venezuela 1-centavo and half-centcivo copper coins to the amount of 
$20,000 and $5,000, respectively. 

1835 . —On March 28, 1835, the half-shilling piece (sixpence) of Eng¬ 
land and her colonies was allowed to circulate at a given price. 

1840 . —On May 2, 1840, the Executive was empowered to allow 
French fractionary silver coin to circulate at a stated price. 

1841 . —On March 23, 1841, currency was forbidden circulation. 

1842 . —On March 29, 1842, copper coins of 1, one-half, and one- 
fourth decimal centavos to the amount of $20,000 were ordered coined, 
and were introduced into Venezuela in said year and in 1843. 

1844 . —On October 12, 1844, the Executive passed a resolution 
declaring that the effects of the law of March 29, 1842, had ceased. 

1846 . —On September 16, 1846, the circulation of certain metal pieces 
issued at Nirgua was forbidden. By law of March 30, 1848, the franc 
piece was adopted as monetary unit, and all other foreign currency 
existing in the country was ordered to circulate according to its rela¬ 
tive value, the law of March 28, 1835, being therefore repealed. 

1849 .— On September 17, 1849, the Executive passed a resolution 
allowing the circulation of Central American gold ounce pieces of 1837 


at the rate of 84 francs each. 

1851 . —Executive resolution of October 24, 1851, declared as coun¬ 
terfeited all coins not having the proper weight. 

1852. —During the year 1852 the Government introduced one-half 
and one-fourth centavo copper coins to the value of $4,500. These 
coins were larger than those of 1843, and as they were introduced 
during General Monagas’s Presidential term they were called mona- 
gnevos and under that denomination may be found in coin collections. 

1854 .— By law of April 1, 1854, the Caracas mint was established, 
and a new type was adopted for Venezuelan coinage, called the vene- 
zolano. The gold pieces were the ounce (onza), one-half, one-fourth, 
one-eighth of an ounce, or escudo, and the one-sixteenth, or venezolano 
gold dollar, which had the same weight and fineness as the coins of 


442 


VENEZUELA. 


equal class of the French decimal type. Silver coins were the silver 
venezolano and one-half, one-eighth, and one-sixteenth fractions. Cop¬ 
per coins were fractioned into quarters and eights. 

1855 . —On July 1855, measures were enacted by the Executive to 
prevent the introduction of counterfeit money. 

1857 . —On March 23, 1857, Congress decreed to coin abroad gold, 
silver, and copper currency, as the mint had not been established. 
The gold peso or dollar of 10 reals was declared to be the monetary 
unit of the Republic. The gold pieces were 1, 5, and 20 peso coins, 
0.900 tine, 14, 21, and 26 millimeters diameter, and 620, 124, and 62 
to the kilo, respectively. Silver coinage of 0.900 line was represented 
as follows: 


Half peso, 11.50 grams, 30 millimeters diameter. 

Peseta (one-fifth peso), 4.60 grams, 23 millimeters diameter. 

Real (one-tenth peso), 2.30 grams, 18 millimeters diameter. 

Half real (one-twentieth peso), 1.15 grams, 16 millimeters diameter. 

Copper coins consisted of an alloy of copper, tin, and zinc (0.750), 
with a diameter of 25 millimeters. 

In accordance with said law $25,000 worth of silver pieces were 
coined at the Paris mint, the coinage expense amounting to 18 per 
cent, and later $20,000 worth of copper currency was legally introduced 
in Venezuela. 

1865 . —On June 12, 1865, Congress authorized the establishment of 
one or more mints in Venezuela, the gold venezolano becoming the 
monetary unit—5,10, and 20 venezolano gold pieces of 0.900 fine—the 
four denominations having diameters of 17, 22, 28, and 35 millimeters, 
respectively, and weighing, respectively, 1,612, 8,064, 16,129, and 
32,258 grams each. Silver coins were 0.800 fine and of the same 
denomination, diameter, and weight as those decreed in 1857. Cop¬ 
per coins had 95 parts of pure copper, 4 of tin, and 1 of zinc. On 
September 11, 1865, the Government established the fixed price for 
which the following foreign coins were to be received, viz: 


Pesos. 

Colombian gold condor. 12. 50 

Spanish peseta. .25 

Spanish peseta, columnaria . .31 

North American 25-cent piece. .31 

Peruvian 25-cent piece.31 

Mexican 25-cent piece. .31 


1866 - 1869 . —From the year 1866 to that of 1869 no currency legisla¬ 
tion was enacted in Venezuela. 


FROM 1870 TO 1877. 

1870 . —On November 28, 1870, the Government withdrew from cir¬ 
culation the currency which had not the legal weight, due to usage. 

1871 . —On February 7, 1871, the German thaler was assigned a cir- 








HISTORY OF CURRENCY. 


443 


ciilating value. On May 11 of the same year a new currency law was 
enacted, according to which the gold venezolano was adopted as the 
monetary unit of the Republic, this and three other gold pieces similar 
in fineness, diameter, and weight to those enacted by law of June 12, 
1865, and silver currency 0.900 and 0.835 line similar in denomination, 
diameter, and weight as those of the law of 1865, as also similar copper 
currenc} 7 , were decreed. 

On December 29, 1871, the Government published a table of the 
conversion of foreign coins authorized to circulate as legal tender at 
given prices from the following countries, viz, France, Great Britain, 
Spain, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Argentine Republic, Bolivia, 
Brazil, Central America, United States of America, and Germany. 

1873 . —On June 11 and August 13, 1873, the Caracas Credit Com- 
pany received order from the Government to coin in Paris 100,000 
venezolanos in silver currency. 

1874 . —On February 13 and 28, 1874, the Government enacted the 
withdrawal from circulation of defaced coins, paying 87i decimal cen¬ 
tavos of venezolano per ounce of defaced silver. 

On March 18, 1874, perforated national or foreign currency was 
declared not to be legal tender by a resolution of the department of the 
interior, which gave a detailed description of the several coins affected 
by said resolution. 

On February 16 and September 4, 1874, the aggregate sum of 400,000 
venezolanos national silver currency was ordered coined in Paris, and 
on September 5,1874, the Government ordered coined in Paris 190,000 
venezolanos national gold currency. 

1875 . —The national gold currency introduced in Venezuela in 1875 
amounted to 69,200 gold 5-venezolano pieces, giving a total of 346,000 
venezolanos. 

1876 - 77 . —In September, October, and November, 1876, silver cur¬ 
rency to the value of 160,000 venezolanos was imported into Venezuela, 
and 35,000 venezolanos of the same currency coined at and imported 
from the Paris mint. Nickel currency to the amount of 120,000 
venezolanos was also imported and placed in circulation on January 
15 , 1877. 

FROM 1879 TO 1889. 


1879 . —On March 12, 1879, a law was passed declaring that foreign 
currency was not legal tender, but merchandise, and was received 
according to an unchangeable tariff 1 which was established. 

On March 31, 1879, a new currency law was enacted, according to 
which Venezuelan currency was to consist of gold, silver, and nickel 
pieces, the gold and silver kilo to be considered divided into one thou¬ 
sand parts, gold fineness to be 0.900 and silver 0.900 and 0.835. The 
bolivar (equal to 1 franc) became and still is the monetary unit. 


444 


VENEZUELA. 


Gold and silver pieces are represented as follows: 


GOLD COINS. 


Bolivars. 

Fineness. 

Diameter. 

Number to 
the kilo. 

Weight of 
coins. 

100. 

Thousandths. 

900 

Millimeters. 

35 

31 

Grams. 

32.25806 

50. 

900 

28 

62 

16.12903 

20. 

900 

21 

155 

6.45161 

10. 

900 

19 

310 

3.22580 

5. 

900 

17 

620 

1.61290 



SILVER COINS. 


Bolivars. 

Fineness. 

Diameter. 

Weight of 
coins. 

5. 

Thousandths. 

900 

Millimeters. 

37 

Grams. 

25 

2. 

835 

27 

10 

1. 

835 

23 

5 

JL 

835 

18 

2£ 

1 

835 

16 

1 




NICKEL COINS. 

These coins are represented by pieces of 5 and 12£ cents of bolivar. 

The currency law restricted to 50 bolivars silver and 20 bolivars 
nickel the amount receivable as part of each payment, and established 
the rule for the importation of foreign currency. 

1880 . —On July 6, 1880, the Government passed a resolution taking 
into consideration the excess of foreign silver coinage and the fall in 
the price of silver, and ordering stated silver coins to be receivable 
only at a given tabulated price. 

In November, 1880, the following quantity of Venezuelan gold and 
silver currency, coined at Brussels, was introduced into the Republic, 


viz: 

Bolivars. 

125, 000 gold pieces (20 bolivars) . 2, 500, 000 

250, 000 silver pieces (5 bolivars) . 1, 250, 000 

375, 000 silver pieces (2 bolivars). 750, 00§ 

375, 000 silver pieces (1 bolivar). 375, 000 

200, 000 silver pieces (0.50 bolivar). 100,000 

125, 000 silver pieces (0.20 bolivar). 25, 000 


1,450,000. 5,000,000 


1884 . —In 1884 the Government decided to have coined abroad 
2,500,000 Venezuelan gold and 2,500,000 Venezuelan silver currency. 

1885 . —On January 27, 1885, the Government contracted for the 
establishment of a regular mint at Caracas, and in October, 1886, it 
was established at a cost of $1,327,896. 

1886 . —On October 25, 1886, Congress passed a law absolutely for¬ 
bidding the importation of foreign silver currency, allowing foreign 
gold currency to be receivable at will at a fixed tabulated price and 
declaring Venezuelan gold and silver currency as the onty legal tender. 
The Caracas mint exchanged the foreign silver currency which was in 
circulation at a fixed price. 









































HISTORY OF CURRENCY. 


445 


1887 . —Congress repealed the currency law of 1879, and a new one 
was enacted on June 2, 1887. The bolivar (equal to 1 franc) contin¬ 
ued to be the monetary unit, and the gold, silver, and nickel currency 
remained unchanged in regard to denomination, fineness, diameter, 
quantity to the kilo or its fractions, and weight and limit of silver and 
nickel currency receivable as part of each payment. 

1889 . —The Caracas mint coined from October, 1886, to June, 1889 
(thirty-three months), the following quantity of Venezuelan currency: 


• Bolivars. 

Venezuelan gold currency. 12, 240, 720 

Venezuelan silver currency.. 10, 862, 997 


Total. 23,103,717 


FROM 1891 TO 1903. 


« $4, 620, 743 


1891 . —On June 26, 1891, the Venezuelan Government enacted the 
last currency law , which is now in force. It is almost identical with that 
of 1887, the only material alteration being the issue of 25 centimos 
silver pieces instead of 20-centimos pieces. 

1893 . —On April 4, 1893, the Government ordered coined 6,000,000 
bolivars of silver currency and 500,000 bolivars of nickel currency. 

1896 . —On June 30, 1896, the Government ordered coined 200,000 
bolivars of nickel currency. 

1899 . —On December 5,1899, the Government ordered coined abroad 
2,000,000 bolivars of silver currency. 

1902 . —On March 26, 1902, the Government ordered coined abroad 
2,000,000 bolivars of silver currency. 

1903 . —On May 8, 1903, the Government issued a decree providing 
for the coinage of 4,000,000 bolivars of silver coinage. 

STAMP LAW. 

Cipriano Castro, general in chief of the armies of Venezuela and 
supreme chief of the Republic, decrees: 

Article I. The national tax-of-instruction stamps will be continued 
according to the following tariff: 

On documents or writings of any kind which deal with values, 
whether for circulation in the Republic or foreign countries, stamps 
will be affixed and canceled as follows: 


• 

Value. 

Stamp. 

Bolivars. 

25 to 50 

$4.82 to 89.65 

Bolivars. 

0.05 

80.0096 

51 to 100 

9.65 to 19.30 

.10 

.0193 

101 to 200 

19.30 to 38.60 

.20 

.0386 

201 to 300 

38.60 to 57.90 

.30 

.0579 

301 to 400 

57.90 to 77.20 

.40 

.0772 

401 to 500 

77.20 to 96.50 

.50 

.0965 

501 to 1,000 

96. 50 to 193. 00 

1.00 

.193 


# United States currency. 














446 


VENEZUELA. 


And from 1,000 bolivars on, a stamp of 1 bolivar for every addi¬ 
tional thousand or fraction thereof. 

§ The stamps which, according to this article, must be canceled on 
checks and drafts must be attached to the stubs thereof, or on the origi¬ 
nal if there is no stub. 

Art. II. Navigation licenses will have stamps canceled on them as 
follows: 


Ships of— 

‘Stamp. 

10 to 50 tons. 

Bolivars. 

0.50 

|0.0965 
.193 

51 to 100 tons. 

1.00 

101 to 500 tons. 

1.50 

.289 

501 to 1,000 tons. 

3.00 

.579 

1,001 to 2,000 tons. 

5.00 

.965 

2,001 tons and over. 

10.00 

1.93 



Art. III. A stamp of 2 bolivars (38.6 cents) will be used for the 
bill of health of sailing vessels and one of 10 bolivars ($1.93) for that 
of steam vessels. 

Art. IV. On importation and exportation manifests stamps of 2 
bolivars (38.6 cents) will be used for each 1,000 bolivars ($193) of said 
manifests, and on coast-trade manifests stamps of 1 bolivar (19.3 cents) 
will be used for each 1,000 bolivars. 

Art. V. On bills of lading for coast trade stamps of 2 bolivars (38.6 
cents) will be used, and on those for export stamps of 5 bolivars (96.5 
cents). 

Art. VI. Stamps of 1 bolivar (19.3 cents) will be used— 

(1) On all petitions or demands for justice sent in writing to any 
public employee, at the rate of 1 bolivar (19.3 cents) for each party 
interested. If more than twenty persons are interested, only this 
number needs to provide stamps. 

(2) On all authorized copies. 

(3) On all second-class passage tickets sold by agents of steam or 
sailing vessels. 

(4) On manifests for the importation of cartridges, pistols, revolvers, 
and all firearms at the rate of 1 bolivar (19.3 cents) for each piece, and 
1 bolivar for every kilo of cartridges, with the exception of such arms 
and cartridges, as are to be used for hunting purposes exclusively. 

Art. VII. Stamps of 2 bolivars (38.6 cents) will be used— 

(1) On certificates of exemption from military service on account of 
sickness or any other cause. 

(2) On all certificates of public officials of whatever rank. 

(3) On all first-class tickets sold by steam or sailing vessel agencies. 

(4) On documents granting special powers, whether given by one or 
more persons. 














STAMP LAW. 


447 


(5) On the substitutions and revocations of such powers. 

(6) On degrees of bachelor of arts, preceptor, veterinary surgeon, 
or those of any other liberal or mechanical profession. 

Art. VIII. Stamps of 4 bolivars (77.2 cents) will be used— 

(1) On documents granting full powers, whether given by one or 
more persons. 

(2) On substitutions or withdrawals of same. 

(3) On open wills and on documents revoking same. 

(4) On licenses for carrying arms. 

Art. IX. Stamps of 10 bolivars ($1.93) will be used— 

(1) On contracts, transactions, and other acts in which civil or com¬ 
mercial associations are re-formed, extended, or dissolved. 

(2) On contracts, transactions, and all other acts in which rights or 
services that can not be expressed in figures, such as real or personal 
services, are constituted, transferred, modified, or renounced. 

(3) On the granting of rights to guardians and tutors; on declarations 
of emancipation, prohibitions, disqualifications; on documents legiti¬ 
mizing and recognizing illegitimate children, adoptions, and on acts 
revoking, modifying, or annulling the above. 

(4) On all final sentences in civil and mercantile matters, with the 
exception of what is set forth in Article XVII. 

(5) On the title-pages of wills and closed codicils. 

(6) On personal bonds for values or services that can not be expressed 
in figures, as well as on cancellations of same. 

(7) On the recordings of suits and sentences which, according to the 
civil code, must be registered, as well as on the drawing up of legal 
mortgages. 

(8) On degrees of doctor or professor of any science, and on those 
of lawyer, solicitor, engineer, surveyor, dentist, and man midwife. 

(9) On permits for public amusements. 

(10) On letters of nationality. 

(11) On literary or artistic copyrights or privileges. 

(12) On permits of private vehicles. 

Art. X. Stamps of 20 bolivars ($3.86) will be used— 

(1) On writings concerning values given as dowries or matrimonial 
cessions which can not be given in figures. 

(2) On the final receipts or discharges of public accounts. 

(3) On privileges granted to new industries. 

(4) On patents of navigation. 

(5) On trade-marks or commercial patents. 

(6) On invention patents. 

Art. XI. Stamps to the value of 40 bolivars ($7.72) will be used—- 

(1) On deeds of mines and of concessions of public or municipal lands. 

(2) On cancellations of mortgages of every description and other 


448 


VENEZUELA. 


similar obligations, on divisions of property, liquidations of same, 
donations between living persons, revocations of same and declara¬ 
tions of reduction, and all other cases when one-fourth of 1 per cent 
is paid for registry charges when it is not possible to obtain the sum 
total of the values which the acts mentioned above represent. 

(3) In exemptions from importation duties such as are not included 
in Article III. 

Art. XII. The tax will be paid in the proportion given in Article I 
of this decree— 

(1) On contracts, transactions, and other acts which deal with pen¬ 
sions, such as leases, life incomes, annuities, partial alienations, the 
tax to be paid will be that corresponding to the sum of the pensions 
or incomes to be paid during the first five years. 

(2) When obligations of this kind are transferred to other persons 
or to other properties or are modified, decided upon, or renounced. 

(3) On cancellations of promissory notes, guaranties, bonds, mort¬ 
gages of all kinds, and other obligations; on divisions of property, 
acts of adjudging, liquidations of property, revocations, and declara¬ 
tions of reduction of donations between living persons; and in all cases 
where one-fourth of 1 per cent is paid for registry charges, the stamp 
tax. will be paid on the amount expressed in or referred to by such 
documents. 

§ When a document has to be recorded in different registry 
offices, owing to the situation of the properties, stamps will be used 
only in proportion to the value of the property that occasions the 
recording. 

(4) On the final receipts and discharges of private accounts. 

(5) On the titles of civil, military, and ecclesiastical employees, and 
on documents giving military rank in the army and navy, stamps will 
be used corresponding to the amount of salary for one year. 

(6) On documents of marriage portions and matrimonial cessions 
stamps will be used in proportion to the amount received by the mar¬ 
ried parties. 

(7) On stocks, bonds, or policies of corporations or other such com¬ 
panies stamps will be used of the value corresponding to the value of 
such stocks, etc. 

(8) On industrial patents the stamps to be used should correspond 
to the amount of the taxes on such patents during one year. 

Art. XIII. On papers granting exemption from importation duties, 
given by the Federal Executive, stamps should be used by the parties 
concerned on the respective manifests as follows: One hundred boli¬ 
vars ($19.30) when the exemption is granted on machinery, utensils, 
or articles for mines; 10 bolivars ($1.93) when on machinery, utensils, 
or other articles for industrial undertakings of other kinds; and 50 
bolivars ($9.65) on any other exemptions. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



CHIQUINQUIRA HOSPITAL, MARACAIBO. 





































































































STAMP LAW. 


449 


Art. XIV. On donations to relatives 3 per cent of the total amount 
will be used in stamps, and on donations to persons not related to the 
donor 20 per cent of such amount. 

§ When the donor reserves the right of enjoying and using the 
donation during his lifetime, the stamping of the document will be 
effected after his death; but if the reservation be partial or limits in 
any way the enjoyment of the donation by the recipient thereof, this 
will be done at the time of the donation, deducting the value of the 
reservation, upon which the corresponding stamp tax will be levied 
upon the death of the donor. 

Art. XV. The stamp tax formerly levied on cigarettes and tobacco 
will be collected in the custom-houses on imported cigarettes and 
tobacco at the rate of 2 bolivars (38.0 cents) per kilo (2.2046 pounds). 
The use of stamps on the cigarette packages is hereby eliminated, and 
the tax created by paragraphs 15 and 16 of the law of June 3,1897, is 
revoked. 

The collection of taxes on cigarettes and tobacco which may be 
imported into the country will be made in the same way as that of 
custom-house duties, and the product will be sent semimonthly to the 
general treasury of public instruction. 

The collectors of the custom-houses will open a special account for 
this branch of collection and will submit a report of same to the min¬ 
ister of public instruction on the first of each month. 

Art. XVI. On contracts made by the Government the stamp tax 
created by the registry law now in force will be paid. 

Art. XVII. The following are exempt from stamp taxes: 

Receipts for payments in the public service and those granted by 
public officials for sums belonging to the national treasury. 

Final sentences pronounced in civil and mercantile cases of minor 
importance. 

Art. XVIII. Merchants doing business in whatever branch of mer¬ 
chandise or natural products will pay a stamp tax of 10 per cent of the 
license they pay annually for their cash sales. 

Art. XIX. This decree will go into force on the 1st of next July, 
from which date all other decrees dealing with the subject are to be 
considered as repealed. 

Art. XX. The minister of public instruction is charged with the 
execution of this decree. 

Given, signed by me, sealed with the seal of the ^National Fxecutive, 
and ratified by the minister of public instruction in the Federal palace 
at Caracas, June 13, 1900, eighty-ninth year of independence and 
forty-second of federation. 

4a— 04 - 29 



450 


VENEZUELA 


World’s commercial ratio of silver to gold from 1687 to 1902. 

[Report of the Director of the United States Mint, 1903, p. 137.] 


Year. 

Ratio. 

Year. 

Ratio. 

Year. 

Ratio. 

Year. 

Ratio. 

Year. 

Ratio. 

1 

Year. 

Ratio. 

1687.... 

14.94 

1723... 

15.20 

1759... 

14.15 

1795... 

15.55 

1831... 

15.72 

1867.... 

15.57 

1688.... 

14.94 

1724... 

15.11 

1760... 

14.14 

1796... 

15.65 

1832... 

15. 73 

1868.... 

15.59 

1689.... 

15. 02 

1725... 

15.11 

1761... 

14.54 

1797... 

15.41 

1833... 

15. 93 

1869.... 

15. 60 

1690.... 

15.02 

1726... 

15.15 

1762... 

15. 27 

1798... 

15. 59 

1834... 

15.73 

1870.... 

15.57 

1691.... 

14. 98 

1727... 

15.24 

1763_ 

14.99 

1799... 

15. 74 

1835... 

15. 80 

1871.... 

15. 57 

1692.... 

14.92 

1728... 

15.11 

1764... 

14.70 

1800... 

15. 68 

1836... 

15. 72 

1872.... 

15. 63 

1093.... 

14.83 

1729... 

14.92 

1765... 

14.83 

1801... 

15. 46 

1837... 

15.83 

1873.... 

15.93 

1694.... 

14.87 

1730... 

14.81 

1766... 

14.80 

1802... 

15.26 

1838... 

15.85 

1874.... 

16.16 

1695.... 

15. 02 

1731... 

14.94 

1767... 

14.85 

1803... 

15.41 

1839... 

15.62 

1875.... 

16. 64 

1696.... 

15.00 

1732... 

15.09 

1768... 

14.80 

1804... 

15. 41 

1840... 

15.62 

1876.... 

17. 75 

1697.... 

15.20 

1733... 

15.18 

1769... 

14. 72 

1805... 

15. 79 

1841... 

15. 70 

1877.... 

17.20 

1698.... 

15. 07 

1734... 

15. 39 

1770... 

14. 62 

1806... 

15.52 

1842... 

15.87 

1878.... 

17.92 

1699.... 

14.94 

1735... 

15.41 

1771... 

14.66 

1807... 

15.43 

1843... 

15. 93 

1879.... 

18.39 

1700.... 

14.81 

1736... 

15.18 

1772... 

14. 52 

1808... 

16.08 

1844... 

15.85 

1880.... 

18.05 

1701.... 

15.07 

1737... 

15. 02 

1773... 

14. 62 

1809... 

15. 96 

1845... 

15.92 

1881.... 

18.25 

1702.... 

15.52 

1738... 

14.91 

1774... 

14. 62 

1810... 

15. 77 

1846... 

15. 90 

1882.... 

18.20 

1703.... 

15.17 

1739... 

14.91 

1775... 

14.72 

1811... 

15.53 

1847... 

15. 80 

1883.... 

18.64 

1704.... 

15. 22 

1740... 

14.94 

1776... 

14.55 

1812... 

16.11 

1848... 

15.85 

1884.... 

18.61 

1705.... 

15.11 

1741... 

14. 92 

1777... 

14.54 

1813... 

16.25 

1849... 

15. 78 

1885.... 

19. 41 

1706.... 

15.27 

1742... 

14. 85 

1778... 

14.68 

1814... 

15.04 

1850... 

15. 70 

1886.... 

20. 78 

1707.... 

15.44 

1743... 

14.85 

1779... 

14.80 

1815... 

15.26 

1851... 

15. 46 

1887.... 

21.10 

1708.... 

15.41 

1744... 

14.87 

1780... 

14.72 

1816... 

15. 28 

1852... 

15. 59 

1888.... 

22.00 

1709.... 

15. 31 

1745... 

14.98 

1781... 

14.78 

1817... 

15.11 

1853... 

15.33 

1889.... 

22.10 

1710.... 

15. 22 

1746... 

15.13 

1782... 

14.42 

1818... 

15.35 

1854... 

15. 33 

1890.... 

19. 75 

1711.... 

15.29 

1747... 

15. 26 

1783... 

14.48 

1819... 

15. 33 

1855... 

15.38 

1891.... 

20.92 

1712.... 

15.31 

1748... 

15.11 

1784... 

14.70 

1820... 

15.62 

1856... 

15. 38 

1892.... 

23.72 

1713.... 

15.24 

1749... 

14.80 

1785... 

14.92 

1821... 

15.95 

1857... 

15.27 

1893.... 

26. 49 

1714.... 

15.13 

1750... 

14.55 

1786... 

14.96 

1822... 

15.80 

1858... 

15.38 

1894.... 

32.56 

''1715.... 

15.11 

1751... 

14.39 

1787... 

14.92 

1823... 

15.84 

1859... 

15.19 

1895.... 

31.60 

1716.... 

15.09 

1752... 

14.54 

1788... 

14.65 

1824... 

15.82 

1860... 

15.29 

1896.... 

30.59 

1717.... 

15.13 

1753... 

14.54 

1789... 

14.75 

1825... 

15.70 

1861... 

15.50 

1897.... 

34.20 

1718.... 

15.11 

1754... 

14.48 

1790... 

15.04 

1826... 

15.76 

1862... 

15. 35 

1898.... 

35.03 

1719.... 

15. 09 

1755... 

14.68 

1791... 

15. 05 

1827... 

15. 74 

1863... 

15. 37 

1899.... 

34.36 

1720.... 

15.04 

1756... 

14.94 

1792... 

15.17 

1828... 

15.78 

1864... 

15. 37 

1900.... 

33.33 

1721.... 

15.05 

1757... 

14.87 

1793... 

15.00 

1829... 

15. 78 

1865... 

15.44 

1901.... 

34.68 

1722.... 

15.17 

1758... 

14.85 

1794... 

15. 37 

1830... 

15.82 

1866... 

15.43 

1902.... 

39.15 


[Note.—F rom 1687 to 1832 the ratios are taken from Dr. A. Soetbeer; from 1833 to 1878 from Pixley 
and V bell’s tables, and from 1879 to 1894 from daily cablegrams from London to the Bureau of the 
Mint.] 















































IJNDEX TO CHAPTER X. 


Page. 

Financial organization. h . 405 

National property . „. 405 

Revenue. 405 

Customs duties. 405 

Division of customs duties. 405 

Land customs dues. 406 

National finances. 406 

Budget law. 406 

Kevenue and expenditure. 406 

1831-1903 (table). 406 

Customs duties, 1885-1894 (table). 407 

Custom-house receipts, 1885-1894 (table). 407 

Custom-house expenditures, 1885-1894 (table) . 408 

Salt revenue in 1894 (table). 409 

Salt revenue from 1900 to 1903 (table). 409 

Revenues itemized from 1895 to 1898 (table). 409 

Expenditures by departments from 1895 to 1903 (table). 409 

Aggregate total of customs revenue from 1894 to 1903 (table). 410 

La Guaira customs revenue, expenditure, and net returns, 1894-1903 

(table). 410 

Puerto Cabello customs revenue, expenditure, and net returns from 1894 

to 1903 (table). 411 

Extraordinary war tax (February to July, 1903). 411 

Maracaibo customs receipts (1898). 411 

Receipts and expenditures of Maracaibo, last half of 1902 ... . 412 

Customs receipts at Carupano, last half of 1901. 413 

Revenue and expenditure, 1901 (itemized). 413 

Revenue and expenditure, 1902 (itemized). 414 

Revenue and expenditure, 1903 (itemized) . 415 

Public debt. 410 

History of the internal debt of Venezuela. 416 

1826. 416 

Floating debt. w . 416 

1827-28. 416 

Old consolidated. 416 

1830-1839. 417 

Modern consolidated. 417 

1840-1845. 417 

Spanish debt.. 418 

1846-1872. 418 

Internal debt, 1838-1872. 418 

Internal debt, 1885-1892. 418 

Internal debt, 1894-1903. 418 


451 












































452 VENEZUELA. 

Public debt—Continued. Page. 

History of the external debt of Venezuela. 419 

1820-1831. 419 

Division of the debt... 420 

1834-1903. 120-425 

List of protocols signed. 426 

Amounts claimed and awarded. 426 

1904. 426 

External debt of Venezuela from 1840 to 1872. 426 

External debt of Venezuela from 1885 to 1893. 427 

Public debt of Venezuela from 1894 to 1903 (table). 427 

Public debt in 1901. 428 

Public debt in 1902. 429 

Public debt in 1903. 429 

International conflict. 429 

Extraordinary war tax. 430 

Banking. 430 

Circulation banks. 430 

Banco National de Venezuela. 430 

Capital. 430 

Guaranty and reserve funds. 431 

Trausactions. 431 

Banknote issue. 431 

Duration. 431 

Bank of Venezuela. 431 

Capital. 431 

Management. 431 

Agencies. 431 

Nature of transactions. 431 

Bank-note issue. 432 

Current accounts. 432 

Discounts. 432 

Dividends. 432 

Balance sheet (table) . 432 

Bank of Caracas. 433 

Management. 433 

Agencies. 433 

Bank-note issue. 433 

Current accounts. 433 

Discounts. 433 

Loans. 433 

Dividends. 434 

Balance sheet (table). 434 

Bank of Maracaibo. 434 

Capital. 434 

Management. 434 

Nature of transactions. 434 

Bank-note issue. 434 

Dividends. 435 

Balance sheet (table). 435 

Agricultural credit. 435 

New banking law. 436 

Currency. 439 

Values based on gold. 439 























































INDEX TO CHAPTER X. 453 

Banking—Continued. 

Currency—Continued. Page. 

Silver currency at par. 439 

Bank notes? guaranteed. 439 

Soundness of the monetary system. 439 

Gold standard. 439 

Paper money not legal tender. 439 

Congress decrees coinage. 439 

Currency per unit of population. 440 

History of Venezuelan currency. 440 

From 1498 to 1820 .. I. 440 

From 1821 to 1827. 440 

From 1830 to 1869. 441 

From 1870 to 1877 .. 7 . 442 

From 1879 to 1889. 443 

From 1891 to 1903. 445 

Stamp law. 445 

World’s commercial ratio of silver to gold from 1687 to 1902 (table). 450 





















































' 

■ 


























CHAPTER XT. 


MEANS OE COMMUNICATION—INTERIOR AND TO FOREIGN COUN¬ 
TRIES — STEAMSHIP LINES — SHIPPING RETURNS — HARBOR 
DUES—RAILROADS—TRAMWAYS—POSTAL, TELEGRAPH, TELE¬ 
PHONE, AND CABLE SERVICE. 


MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. 


Interior communication.—The vast territory of Venezuela is crossed 
in every direction by high roads. There are also railroads, telegraph, 
telephone, and mail routes which serve as efficient means of land com¬ 
munication. 

Navigation.—Of the 1,059 rivers of Venezuela TO are navigable and 
several are plied by steam and sailing vessels. The great waterway of 
the Orinoco is the principal means of communication by water, and 
its numerous affluents are utilized to a great extent likewise. Of the 
201: lakes in Venezuela onlv Lake Maracaibo admits of steam com- 
munication to different points of its vast extension. The navigation 
of the Valencia Lake is carried on by small steamers, sailing vessels, 
and small craft. 


COMMUNICATION WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 

Besides the coasting trade carried on by sailing vessels along the 
extensive shores of the Republic, comprised between the Orinoco 
River and Lake Maracaibo, and between some ports of Venezuela and 
the West Indian Islands, there are several ocean steamers which arrive 
at or leave the ports of the country and place it in daily communica¬ 
tion with its seacoast and foreign countries. 

Steamship lines.—There are nine steamship lines between the different 
ports of the Republic. 

Trans-Atlantic lines.—Communication is maintained with foreign 
countries by means-of American, British (3). French, Dutch, German, 
Spanish, and Italian steamship lines. 

The following lines touch regularty at the \ enezuelan ports: 

Red “Z>” L me .—An American company, from New \ ork, four 
times a month at La Guaira. This line transships to Maracaibo at tin 
Dutch island of Curayao. 


455 




VENEZUELA. 


456 

The Royal Hail Steamship Company. —A British line, from South¬ 
ampton, every two weeks to the island of Barbados, whence passengers 
and freight are transshipped to the intercolonial steamers which ply 
between the British West Indian Colonies and from Port of Spain, 
Trinidad, touch at Carupano, La Guaira, and Puerto Cabello. 

The Harrison Steamship Company. —A British line, from Liverpool, 
twice a month, touching at La Guaira and Puerto Cabello. 

The West India and Pacific Steamship Company. —A British line, 
from Liverpool, twice a month, touching at La Guaira and Puerto 
Cabello. 

Cornpagnie Generate Transatiantique. —A French company, from St. 
Nazaire and Bordeaux, twice a month at La Guaira and Carupano; a 
steamer from Marseilles touches at Puerto Cabello once a month. 

Koninglijke West Indische Mail Dienst. —A Dutch company, from 
Amsterdam, once a month at La Guaira, Carupano, Guanta, and Puerto 
Cabello. 

Hamburg-American Steamship Company. —A German company, 
twice a month at La Guaira and Puerto Cabello. 

Compania TransatidnticaEspanola. —A Spanish company, from Bar¬ 
celona, Spain, once a month at La Guaira and Puerto Cabello. 

La Yeloce. —An Italian company, from Genoa, once a month at La 
Guaira and Puerto Cabello. 

Orinoco navigation.—The navigation of the Orinoco River is carried 
on between the Port of Spain, in the island of Trinidad, and Ciudad 
Bolivar, on the Orinoco River, up to San Fernando, on the Apure 
River. A Venezuelan company has been established and is the only 
one which carries on the traffic at present. 

SHIPPING RETURNS, 1899-1903. 

MARACAIBO, 1899. 


Arrival of vessels at Maracaibo during the year ending December 31, 1899. 


Nationality. 

Tonnage. 

Number of vessels. 

Steamers. 

Barks. 

Brigs. 

Schooners. 

Total. 

British. 


5 




5 

American. 


43 




43 

German. 


4 

2 



6 

Italian.. 




1 


1 

Norwegian. 


17 




17 

Danish. 



2 

. 

. 

2 

Dutch. 



1 

9 

27 

37 

Brazilian. 






1 

Venezuelan. 


8 



236 

244 







Total. 

25,306 

77 

5 

11 

263 

356 











































SHIPPING RETURNS 1900 


457 


CIUDAD BOLIVAR, 1899. 


Returns of all shipping at the port of Ciudad Bolivar during the year 1899. 


CLEARED. 


Nationality. 

Sailing. 

Steam. 

Total. 

British... 


% 

No. 

5 

Tons. 

400 

No. 

Tons. 

No. 

5 

Tons. 

400 
16,715 
7 528 

Venezuelan. 

1 

74 

50 

16, 641 
7,052 

51 

German. 

2 

476 

9 

12 

11 

French. 

2,424 
378 

12 

2 4‘>4 

Other nationalities__ 

1 

289 

3 

4 

667 





Total. 



9 

1,239 
2,906 

74 

26,495 
18,856 

83 

27 734 

Total 1898 . 



16 

43 

59 

21,762 


ENTERED. 


British. 

5 

430 



5 

430 

Venezuelan. 


45 

14,598 
7,052 
2,424 
630 

45 

14,598 
7,528 

German. 

9 

476 

9 

ii 

French. 


12 

12 

2,424 
993 

Other nationalities. 

2 

363 

5 

7 



Total. t . 

9 

1,269 

4,118 

71 

24,704 
18,208 

80 

25,973 
22,326 

Total 1S98. 

23 

47 

70 



LA GUAIRA, 1900. 


Return of shipping at the port of La Guaira daring the year 1900. 

ENTERED AND CLEARED. 


Nationality. 


i 

Steam. 


Sailing. 


British.... 
French ... 
American. 

Dutch. 

German... 
Various... 

Total 


54 

72 

48 

47 

44 

25 


3 


6 


1 

15 


290 


25 


PUERTO CABELLO, 1900. 


Number of vessels entered from and cleared for foreign ports during the year 1900. 


British.... 
French ... 
German... 

Dutch. 

American. 
Norwegian 
Spanish ... 
Italian.... 
Russian... 

Total 


Nationality. 


Steam. 


Sailing. 


29 

61 

49 

40 

26 

23 

12 


1 


11 

1 

9 


8 


248 


4 

19 










































































































458 


VENEZUELA 


MARACAIBO, 1900. 


Arrivals of vessels at Maracaibo during the gear ending December 31, 1900. 


Nationality. 

Steamers. 

Barks. Brigs. 

Schooners. 

Total. 

British 

4 



4 

American 

48 



48 

Norwegian 

14 

1 . 


15 

German 

2 



4 

Danish 


3 . 


3 

"French 


. 1 


1 

Italian 


. 1 


1 

Russian . _. . 


1 . 


1 

Dutch 



23 

30 

Brazilian 


. 2 


2 

Colombian 



2 

2 

Venezuelan. 

8 


284 

292 






Total. 

76 

7 11 

309 

403 


CIUDAD BOLIVAR, 1900. 


Return of all shipping entered at the port of Ciudad Bolivar during the year 1900. 


Nationality. 

With cargo. 

In ballast. 

Total. 

British. 

Venezuelan. 

German. 

No. 

3 

42 

9 

s 

2 

Tons. 

Ill 

• 18,118 
1,044 
1,010 
371 

Xo. 

3 

7 

Tons. 

102 

895 

1 

10 

6 

Tons. 
218 
19,013 
1,044 
2,020 
627 

French. 

Other . 

Total. 

Total 1899. 

5 

4 

1,010 

256 

54 

20,654 

19 

2,263 

73 

80 

22,917 
25,973 


. 





LA GUAIRA, 1901. 

Number of vessels arrived at La Guaira during the year 1901. 


Nationality of vessels. 


German 
American.. 

Danish. 

Spanish 

French. 

Dutch. 

English.... 

Italian. 

Norwegian. 

Russian 

Swedish.... 

Venezuelan 

Total. 


syiips. 

Amount. 

25 

Kilos. 

8,417,500 

43 

24,562,855 

3 

1,161,575 

12 

358,609 

37 

2,117,845 

31 

3,452, 653 

G4 

5,471,935 

10 

1,134,163 

3 

1,883,688 

7 

3,853,143 

i 

414, 765 

4 

139,226 

240 

52,967,962 


PUERTO CABELLO, 1901. 

Number of vessels from foreign ports entered and cleared during the year 1901. 


• 

Nationality. 

Steam. 

Sailing. 

Norwegian. 

73 


French. 

61 


Dutch. 

47 

2 

British. 

38 

1 

American. 

25 

2 

Spanish. 

12 


Italian. 

9 


Russian. 


2 

German. 

52 

1 

Total. 

317 

8 















































































































SHIPPING RETURNS 1901 


459 


MARACAIBO, 1901. 


A •rivals of vessels at the port of Maracaibo during the gear 1901. 


Nationality. 

Steamers. 

Barks. 

Brigs. 

Schooners. 

Total. 

American. 

50 


1 


51 

12 

10 

25 

1 

331 

1 

Norwegian. 

11 


1 


Danish. 

9 

1 


Dutch.:. 


1 

8 

16 

Russian. 


1 


Venezuelan. 




331 

French . 



1 





Total. 

61 

11 

12 

347 

431 


Note. —American tonnage, 44,310. 


CIUDAD BOLIVAR, 1901. 


Return of all shipping at the port of Ciudad Bolivar during the year 1901. 


Nationality. 


British. 

Venezuelan... 

German. 

French. 

Other . 

Total. 

Total, 1900. 


Entered. 

Cleared. 

Sailing. 

Steam. 

Total. 

Sailing. 

Steam. 

Total. 

No. 

15 

21 

1 

7 

Tons. 

1,216 

528 

344 

645 

No. 

1 

39 

11 

Tons. 

12 

13,412 

2,212 

No. 

16 

60 

1 

11 

7 

Tons. 
1,228 
13,940 
344 
2,212 
645 

No. Tons. 

8 969 

23 1,747 

1 344 

4 | 278 

No. 

1 

36 

11 

Tons. 

12 

13,350 

2, 212 

No. 

9 

59 

1 

11 

4 

Tons. 

981 
15,097 
344 
2,212 
278 

44 

2,733 

51 

15,636 

95 

73 

18,369 
22, 917 

36 3,338 

48 

15,574 

84 

74 

18,912 
23,470 









LA GUAIRA, 1902. 


Return of shipping during the year 1902. 



1902. 

Nationality. 

Steam. 

Sailing. 

Freight 

inward. 

German ... 

22 


Met. tons. 
4, 658 

American . 

30 

1 

11.840 

Snanish . 

12 


339 

TTreneh ........ 

38 


1,393 

1,269 

Tin tell . 

27 


British ... 

41 

1 

8, 496 

T to 11RT1 .. 


2 

1 , 346 

Norvvpp'ifl n . 


9 

4,851 

Bnssian . 


2 

1,512 

Vpnp'/npln n 


1 

11 






MARACAIBO, 1902. 


Arrival of vessels at the port of Maracaibo in 1902. 


Nationality. 

Steamers. 

Brigs. 

* 

Schooners. 

Barks. 

Men-of- 

war. 

Total. 


52 

2 




54 


4 

2 




6 





24 


24 

Tlntph . 


5 

76 

1 


82 






1 

1 




327 


22 

349 








Total. 

56 

9 

403 

25 

23 

516 






















































































































































VENEZUELA 


460 


LA GUALRA, 1903.« 

The following table shows the number, class, and nationality of the 
vessels with which the import and export trade of La Guaira was 
effected in 1908: 

IMPORTS. 



German. 

American. 

Spanish. 

French. 

Month. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

January. 









February . 



3 

1,141,574 
930,181 
516,000 

1 

156,652 

1 

52,329 
204,386 

March. 

3 

1,320,876 

1 3 

1 1 

38,979 

3 


1 


April. 

1 

303,053 
323,178 
539,271 

773,005 

682,476 
762,122 
790,289 
1,299,888 
676,513 

5 

1,211,370 
842, 083 
911,667 
952,833 
651,000 
1,440,932 
1,120,945 
1,387,619 
1,785,029 
1,602,156 

1 

63,097 
34,609 
65,045 

38,075 

29,396 
33,973 
28,869 
49,519 
15,843 

3 

234,141 
82,472 
144,971 

85,286 

185,541 
98,359 
176,815 
204,241 
217,466 

May. 

1 

4 

1 

3 

June. 

1 

4 

1 

4 

July. 

1 

f 4 

l & 1 

5 

} 1 

1 

2 

August. 

1 

3 

September. 

2 

3 

1 

2 

October. 

2 

3 

1 

3 

November. 

2 

5 

1 

2 

December. 

2 

4 

1 

3 





Total. 

16 

7,470,671 

r 43 

} 14,493,389 

11 

554,057 

29 

1,686,007 



l 2 


Dutch. 

British. 

Italian. 

Norwegian.a 

Month. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

January. 









Februarv . 

1 

113,121 
84,257 

1 

30,016 
164,968 
488,880 
186,704 
1,660,578 
293,198 
377,487 
406,000 
1,957,735 
679,866 
1,158,044 
619,944 
350,481 





March. 

2 

f 4 

5 

j. 


1 

3, 790 

April. 

1 

67,722 
258,578 
297,117 

J 




May. 

3 

7 





.Tune. 

3 

5 





July. 

4 

370,454 

376,062 
420,058 
552,057 
757,642 

686,788 

f 5 

1 b 1 

6 

1. 




August. 

4 

1 

] 

70,250 
93,271 
89, 918 
124,945 

112,635 

1 

4,031 

September. 

4 

5 

1 


October. 

4 

6 

1 



November. 

4 

6 

1 



December. 

3 

{ A 

1 i 

6 3 

2,454,728 



946,512 

J 

Total. 

33 

3,983,856 

{ ™ 

j 9,320,413 

5 

491,019 

( 2 

} 2,462,549 


l 3 


\ 63 



Month. 

Russian. 

Venezuelan. 

Danish. 

Austrian. 

Sailing 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Sailing 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

Steam 

vessels. 

Kilos. 

January. 









February ... 









March. 

o 

1,297,179 



1 

449, 645 



April. 



1 

1 

23,712 
84, 564 

May. 







June. 







July. 



61 

8,901 



1 

1 

1 

1 

180,763 

116,223 
168,104 
121,284 

August. 





September .. 










{ 61 

267 

238 



November .. 









December... 

Total.. 

i 

481,009 

6 1 

9,000 



2 

137, 663 



3 

1,778,188 

{ 63 

118, 406 

1 

449,645 

8 

832,313 


Total. 


Steam 

vessels. 


Kilos. 



7 

1,493, 692 

f 

17 

2,747,437 

X 

a 5 

2,751,704 


17 

2,089,799 


20 

3,286,062 


18 

2,251, 269 

1 

18 

2, 777, 903 

l 

a 3 

1,065,901 


23 

4,862,646 


19 

3,376,698 


22 

4,305,162 


«1 

238 


21 

4,841,208 

1 

l 

20 

3, 799,545 

« 6 

3,891,249 

f 

X 

2021 
a 15/ 

43,540,513 


a Data from the La Guaira Harbor Corporation Co. 
6 Sailing vessels. 
























































































































































ORINOCO NAVIGATION. 


461 


Kilos. 

For La Guaira... 41,488,813 

In transit for Ciudad Bolivar. 2, 051, 700 


Total. 43,540,513 


EXPORTS. 


Month. 

Ameri¬ 

can 

(steam) 

Ger¬ 

man 

(steam) 

Span¬ 

ish 

(steam) 

French 

(steam) 

Dutch 

(steam) 

British 

(steam) 

Italian 

(steam) 

Aus¬ 
trian 
(steam) 

Vene¬ 

zuelan 

(sail). 

January . 










February . 

1 

1 

1 

•> 

1 

1 




March. 

2 

1 

1 

3 

2 

2 




April. 

5 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 



1 

May. 

4 

2 

1 

4 

3 

3 


1 

2 

June. 

5 

1 

1 

3 

4 

2 




July. 

4 

1 

l 

3 

3 

3 


2 


August. 

3 

2 

1 

3 

4 

2 



1 

September. 

5 

2 

1 

2 

4 

1 

1 


3 

October. 

4 

2 

1 

2 

4 

2 


i 


November. 

5 

2 

1 

2 

4 

3 



2 

December. 

5 

2 

1 

4 

3 

2 

1 


1 

Total. 

43 

18 

11 

30 

34 

23 

2 

4 

10 


Month. 


January... 
February.. 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August 
September. 
October.... 
November. 
December . 

Total 


Coffee. 

Cacao. 

Hides. 

Sundries. 

Total. 

Total. 

Steam. 

Sail. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 

Kilos. 



Kilos. 

1,512,095 

515,535 

123,507 

95.548 

7 


2,246, 685 

1,441,861 

818,914 

89,335 

29, 442 

11 


2,379,552 

1,248,972 

513,471 

100, 887 

23,812 

14 

1 

1,887,142 

1,476,774 

1,318,502 

106,834 

36,227 

18 

2 

2,938,337 

859,857 

1,163,075 

93, 704 

19,760 

16 


2,136,396 

468,782 

781,218 

73, 769 

14,796 

17 


1,338,565 

662,524 

438,156 

65, 775 

23,525 

15 

1 

1,189,980 

272, 983 

311,061 

226,132 

140,238 

16 

3 

950,414 

338,774 

69, 786 

130,373 

176,207 

16 


715,140 

270,269 

200,369 

182,304 

139,549 

17 

2 

792,491 

507, 068 

188,140 

299,224 

193,152 

18 

1 

1,187,584 

9,059,959 

6,318,227 

1,491,844 

892,256 

165 

10 

17,762,286 


Kilos. 

From La Guaira. 16, 632, 414 

In transit for Ciudad Bolivar. 1,129, 872 


Total... 17,762,286 


CONCESSION FOR THE NAVIGATION OF THE ORINOCO RIVER. 


The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

c“5 

Sole article . The contract made on March 28 of the present year 
between the National Executive and Gen. Manuel Corao for the estab¬ 
lishment of a line of steamers to run on the Orinoco and its affluents 
and subaffluents, and which are named in the following contract, is 
hereby approved: 

a The minister of interior relations of the United States of Vene¬ 


zuela, thereto authorized by the Citizen Constitutional President ol the 
Republic, of the one part, and of the other Angel Maria Corao, under 
power of attorney from Gen. Manuel Corao, and on his behalf, have 

entered into the following contract: 

“Art. 1. Angel Maria Corao, as the representative and the consti¬ 
tuted attorney of Gen. Manuel Corao, hereinafter called the con- 


































































































VENEZUELA. 


462 


tractor, undertakes to establish within six months, counted from the 
date at which this contract begins to take effect, a line of steamers 
for navigation on the Orinoco and its affluents and subaffluents, the 
Apure, Meta, Arauca, Apurito, Caura, Masparro, Portuguesa, and 
Cojedes. The steamers of this line may extend their service to the 
port of La Guaira. 

“Alt. 2. The contractor engages to maintain a constant shipping 
service according to the itinerary and tariffs agreed upon beforehand 
with the National Government. 

“Art. 3. The contractor undertakes to effect on the rivers, which 
come within the line of navigation he may establish, all the necessary 
dredging and canalization for the better service of the public, without 
having at any time any claim for compensation for this work. 

“Art. 4. The ships of the line shall sail under the Venezuelan flag 
and shall touch at Trinidad or Curazao to take provisions and coal. 

“Art. 5. The points at which the ships of the line are to call shall, 
as mentioned above, be fixed by agreement with the Federal Execu¬ 
tive, but there shall be no objection to their calling at other points 
not specified after previous notice, to be given by the contractor. 

“Art. 6. The National Government shall enjoy a rebate of 50 per 
cent of the passenger and freight tariffs; and the troops and officers 
whom the Government may embark on the ships of the line shall pay 
only a third part of the tariff price. 

“Art. T. When the Federal Executive deems fit he shall appoint 
Government inspectors to superintend the service of the line, and the 
contractor shall give the said employees all necessary cooperation for 
the better discharge of their duties, and to take them on board the 
steamers as first-class passengers without expense to the Government. 

“Art. 8 . The contractor undertakes to carry all correspondence, 
and when, owing to public disturbances, the Government is under the 
necessity of transporting troops on the ships of the line they shall per¬ 
form this service in preference to any other, and shall likewise perform 
with preference any other commission or order of the Government. 

“Art. 0 . The contractor undertakes to keep in active service at 
least two steamers which shall touch at least once a month at the 
various points of the itinerary of the line. 

“Art. 10. The National Government authorizes the ships of the 
line to navigate by all the mouths of the Orinoco, especially by those 
of Macareo and Pedernales. 

“Art. 11. The ships of the line shall be exempt from all national 
contributions. 

“Art. 12. The employees of the line shall be exempt from military 
service, except in case of international war. 

“Art. 13. The Federal Executive shall exempt from the payment of 
custom import duties all materials, effects, and articles which the 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



LA TOMA” BRIDGE OVER THE NARICUAL RIVER, GUANTA AND NARICUAL RAILWAY. 









LA GUAIRA HARBOR CORPORATION. 


463 


contractor may require for the establishment and needs of the line of 
steamships, but in every case the contractor shall inform the Depart¬ 
ment of Finance beforehand what arc the articles which he wishes to 
import, and that department, with due knowledge, shall issue the 
respective orders. 

“Art. 14. The ships of the line may take from the national forests 
such wood as may be required, whether for fuel or for any other use, 
but in no case to carry on traffic with it. 

“Art. 15. This contract is exonerated from the payment of registry 
dues. 

“Art. 16. The duration of this contract shall he fifteen vears from 
the date on which the President of the Union signs the decree of the 
National Congress approving this contract, and during that lapse of 
time the National Government shall not make any like or similar con- 
cessions to any person or company for the establishment of lines of 
navigation between the points comprised in the present contract. 

“Art. IT. This contract shall not be transferred, either wholly or 
in part, to any person or company of foreign nationality. The con¬ 
tractor may transfer all or any of the rights which he acquires only to 
persons or companies of Venezuelan nationality, after the approval of 
the transfer by the National Executive. 

“Art. 18. All doubts and controversies of any nature whatsoever 
which may arise under this contract, and which can not be decided 
amicably by the contracting parties, shall be decided by the competent 
tribunals of Venezuela, in conformity with its laws, and shall not, for 
any motive or cause whatsoever, be the occasion of a foreign claim." 

Made in duplicate, at Caracas, this 28th day of March, 1904. 


LA GTJAIRA HARBOR CORPORATION.“ 

This corporation was registered in 1885 to take over a concession 
granted by the Venezuelan Government; the authorized capital was 
fixed at £400,000, in £20 shares, all of which have been subscribed for 
and paid up. Debenture capital was issued as follows : £300,000 T per 
cent first debenture stock, and £395,910 T per cent second debenture 
stock. Late in 1896 a rearrangement scheme, which included the 
funding of interest in arrears, was agreed upon, under which the 
debenture capital was altered, so that there is now outstanding £397,000 
(part of an authorized £420,000) 5 per cent first mortgage irredeemable 
debenture stock, and £578,289 (part of an authorized £600,000) 5 per 
cent noncumulative second mortgage debenture stock. The corpora¬ 
tion is free from State and municipal taxation and holds its concession 
exclusive from competition for ninety-nine years. Since the rear¬ 
rangement of the debenture capital in 1896 the full interest has always 

“Abstract from the South American Journal, April 30, 1904. 








464 


VENEZUELA. 


been paid on the first debentures, which require <£19,850 a year, but on 
the second debentures only three-fourths of 1 per cent was paid for 1897, 
2 per cent for 1898, 1 per cent for 1899, 14 per cent for 1900, three- 
fourths percent for 1901, and none for 1902, a debit balance at the end 
of that year of £5,842 being carried forward. As regards the earn¬ 
ings the following table gives statistics for ten years, those for 1903 
being estimated: 


Y ear. 

Gross 

receipts. 

Working 

expenses. 

Net 

receipts. 

Ratio of 
working. 

Dividend 
on sec¬ 
ond de¬ 
bentures. 

1903 <1. 

£57,000 

£27, 000 

£30,000 

Per cent. 
47 

Per cent. 

1 

1902 . 

42,288 
53,325 

28,349 

13, 939 
22,542 

56 


1901. 

30, 783 

48 

t 

L 1 

1900. 

52,203 

25,335 

26,868 

41 

1899. 

55,/ / 3 

31,317 

24,456 

48 


1898. 

63, 277 

31,779 

31,498 

45 

2 

1897. 

60, 409 

36,896 

23,513 

64 

? 

189(3. 

71,613 
65,655 
66,940 

41,804 

29,809 
29,041 
23,368 

58 


1895. 

36| 614 

49 


1894. 

43; 572 

55 





a Estimated. 


From January 1 to April 9, 1904, the gross receipts were £27,450, 
and the net, at about £15,900, gave an average of about £1,000 per 
week. 

The following table gives comparative quotations: 



Outstanding 

amount. 

Quotations. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

Present 

(1904). 

High¬ 

est. 

Low¬ 

est. 

High¬ 

est. 

Low¬ 

est. 

High¬ 

est. 

Low¬ 

est. 

Ordinary £20 shares. 

£400,000 
397,000 
578,289 








5 per cent first mortgage debentures. 

5 per cent second debenture stock. 

79? 

221 

665 

17 

73 

17 

651 

14 

815 
21 

651 

16? 

84 

27 


LA GUAIRA WHARFAGE DUES. 

LA GUAIKA HARBOR CORPORATION PASSENGER TARIFF. 

Passengers embarking or disembarking for any port when the ship moors to 

the wharf and no boats are used, for each person. o$2 

Passengers landed or brought on board, each person. 3 

Luggage for or from foreign countries, for every 100 kilos. 2, 

Luggage from or for Venezuelan ports, for every 100 kilos. 1 

Lowest price. 1 

A passenger who hires a boat for his exclusive use. 18 

Freight of a canoe with not more than 8 passengers and their luggage. 32 

A boat must not carry more than 4 passengers. Persons accompanying pas¬ 
sengers to and from vessels pay. 3 

* 


The foregoing tariff includes the carriage of luggage to the custom¬ 
house. 


a United States currency. 











































































PUERTO CABELLO WHARF. 


465 


No boatman or carrier of luggage has authority to collect money on 
behalf of the corporation 

Passengers arc requested to ask for a receipt of any sum paid. 


IMPORT AND EXPORT TARIFF. 


FOREIGN. 


« Bolivars. 


Merchandise, provisions, hardware, luggage, staple, and other products, per 


100 kilos.2.00 

Machines, packages, or pieces weighing more than 2,000 kilos..per 100 kilos.. 4.00 

Coal and other minerals.do.50 

Lumber...do_2.00 

Live animals, excepting cattle and horses.each.. 1. 00 

Live horned cattle.do_2. 50 

Live horses or mules.do_3. 00 

Passengers without distinction and without luggage.do_2. 00 


COASTWISE. 


Merchandise, provisions, hardware, luggage, staple, and other products, per 


100 kilos. 1.00 

Coal and other minerals, lumber.per 100 kilos.. . 50 


LA GUAIRA WATER DUES. 


A copy of an ordinance to regulate the payment of water dues at 
the port of La Guaira by all steamers and sailing vessels, abrogating 
a previous ordinance of April 4, 1900, has been issued. 

The most important articles of the ordinance are as follows: 

Article 1 . All merchant steamers that enter this port, wherever 
they come from, whether or not taking a supply of water, but receiving 
cargo or passengers, will pay to the administration of municipal 
revenue the sum of 140 bolivars. 

Art. 2. Merchant steamers from Europe and the United States that 
leave for other ports and return to proceed to their port of destination 
will pay for each return, 140 bolivars. 

Merchant steamers that leave this port, and do not return to it to 
proceed on their voyage to a foreign port from whence they came, will 
pay 240 bolivars. 

Art. 3. Sailing vessels in the foreign trade with this port will also 
pay for water dues 1 bolivar for each Venezuelan ton of their meas¬ 
urement. 

WHARF IMPROVEMENTS AT PUERTO CABELLO. 

The United States consul at Puerto Cabello reported that extensive 
improvements had been completed at the whaif in that city. I he 
wharf is built of iron, covered with 10-centimeter plank, and has over 
600 meters frontage on the harbor, with an average depth of water 


«1 Bolivar = 19.3 cents U. S. currency. 


4a- -04- 


-30 
















466 


VENEZUELA. 


alon^ its entire front of 8 meters. The consul asserts that the Puerto 
Cabello Harbor is the best in Venezuela. It is over 90 meters wide 
at its narrowest point, and its depth is from 6 to 18 meters. The 
custom-houses, offices, sheds, etc., and the tracks of the steam and 


tram railways adjoin the wharf, and the city water mains extend along 
its south side. Ships have little difficulty in taking water and unload¬ 
ing or loading cargo at any point along its front. The cargoes are 
rapidly handled by experienced native laborers. 


PUERTO CABELLO HARBOR REGULATIONS. 


GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS FOR THE HARBOR AND WHARVES OF 

PUERTO CABELLO. 


[Enacted in 1899.] 


Article 1. All vessels coming from foreign ports are required to 
wait in the bay for the health officer’s visit, after which they may or 
may not enter, as the captain of the port may decide, in accordance 
with the law. 

Art. 2. It is forbidden, under lines and penalties which shall be 
established, for all craft to go near or alongside of vessels which anchor 
in the port previous to the health officer’s visit. 

Art. 3. Any vessel which anchors in the bay of this port is con- 
sidered as having entered, and is consequently bound to receive the 
visit of the health officer and of the custom-house officials, without 
which she can not land passengers or anything whatever. 

Art. 4. Vessels which, by order of the sanitary board, are to remain 
under observation shall hoist at their topmasts a yellow Hag; and this 
will be the signal for all craft to keep aloof from them and not to go 
near without previous permission of the captain of the port. 

Art. 5. No vessel having on board powder, dynamite, or other 
explosive substances of like nature shall enter the harbor until after 
the competent authorities have taken the necessary measures of secu¬ 
rity for the landing of said cargo without danger. 

Art. 6. After the visits of the health officer and of the custom¬ 


house officials, and on the vessel being admitted to port, the captain 
of the port shall point out the place where she is to land her cargo. 

Art. 7. Steamships or sailing vessels which are loading or unloading 
must withdraw from the wharves daily at 6 p. m. and stay until (> a. m. 
at a distance of at least 6 meters. Only by express permission of the 
captain of the port shall this order be dispensed with. 

Art. 8. After the vessel has landed her cargo she shall remove 
from the wharves and cast her anchors at the place which shall lie 
designated to her for the purpose by the captain of the port. 

Art. 9. All vessels anchored in the port are required to have suf- 


PUERTO CABELLO HARBOR REGULATIONS. 


467 


ficient moorings for their own security and for the safety of their 
neighbors. 

Art. 10. It is forbidden to stretch ropes from one vessel to another 
in the port unless absolutely necessary when the steamers shall take 
care to keep always, by day and by night, a sailor on guard to lower 
them when necessary, and they shall be held responsible for any 
damage occurring from the nonfulfillment of this rule. 

Art. 11. All vessels in port must have during the night a globular 
light at their fore-topmasts, at a height of fi meters from the level of 
the gunwale. 

Art. 12. No vessel is allowed to throw overboard in the port 
sweepings or rubbish without first obtaining the necessary permission 
from the captain of the port, showing how and where it should be 
done. 

Art. 13. The captains are required to keep order on board of their 
vessels; and they shall prevent any disturbance, scandal, or quarrel 
which may arise, and should their authority not be sufiicient they 
may ask for help from the office of the captain of the port. 

Art. 14. Captains of vessels in port are obliged to give each other 
all possible assistance in case of any serious accident of whatever 
nature. 

Art. 15. No vessel once anchored is allowed to change her anchor 
ground without previously asking for and obtaining permission from 
the captain of the port, who shall grant it when there is a just cause. 

Art. 16. No captain is allowed to overhaul his vessel inside the har¬ 
bor without permission from the captain of the port, who shall point 
out the place where this operation is to be performed. 

Art. 17. It is absolutely forbidden to boil pitch, tar, or rosin on 
board of vessels lying in port. The captain of the port may give per¬ 
mission for such operations when needful, and designate in each case 
where they should be performed. 

Art. 18. Sailors on guard shall notify their chiefs immediately if 
they notice any removal of anchors or buoy ropes or robbery of goods 
or other effects on the wharves or on board of any vessel. 

Art. 19. It is not allowed to take ballast without permission of the 
captain of the port and previous to taking the precautions determined 
by law for such cases, so as not to obstruct the anchorage. 

Art. 20. Vessels which carry on board a fire engine must keep it in 
perfect condition and ready for use in case of need. 

Art. 21. No guns or other arms shall be fired in the port without 
express permission of the captain of the port. 

Art. 22. Captains of vessels lying in the port are required to hoist 
their respective flags on Sunday and on all other holidays prescribed 
by the law. 


468 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 23. No vessel can leave the port after 6 p. m. without permis¬ 
sion of the competent authorities. 

Art. 24. The entrance into the port must always be free to the ves¬ 
sels which enter and leave; consequently, it is strictly forbidden to 
anchor in a place which obstructs the traffic. 

Art. 25. Should a vessel on leaving the port cause any damage to 
another one, she is obliged to immediately drop her anchor and await 
the result of the summary investigation which shall be made to deter¬ 
mine the culpability of the case, in accordance with the maritime laws; 
and should she continue her voyage before the judgment of the captain 
of the port, in the terms prescribed, she will be held culpable, guilty 
and confessed, and absolutely responsible for the damage done. But 
should the investigation be protracted on account of the circumstances 
of the case, she may leave the place, giving bail satisfactory to the 
captain of the port to answer for all damages and tines. 

Art. 26. For loading and discharging, the following order shall be 
observed: The vessel which enters port first (without regard to flag) 
shall discharge first, and the others successively in order of entry; 
and for loading, the one which finishes unloading first shall be the first 
to reload, and the same order shall be continued; provided, how¬ 
ever, that the wharves are not occupied by vessels unloading, as this 
last operation has the preference. 

Steamers shall have the preference over sailing vessels in both cases, 
and postal steamers over all others. 

Art. 27. A vessel which enters in a damaged condition and requires 
to be unloaded at once shall be attended to with due regard to the 
urgency of the case. 

Art. 28. Vessels anchored in the bay which need to send a boat on 
shore or vice versa after 6 p. m. shall provide such craft with a light. 

Art. 29. Owners and consignees of goods can not leave on the 
wharves merchandise of any kind without previous permission of the 
collector of the custom-house and captain of the port, with excep¬ 
tion of mineral coal, which may remain on the place designated for 
that purpose. 

Art. 30. No captain shall admit on board of his vessel sailors 
enlisted in the service of other vessels and who have received their 
pay in advance. 

Art. 31. Captains of foreign vessels are not allowed to discharge 
men of their crew except for justified reasons, and always subject to 
the consent of the captain of the port. 

Art. 32. The difficulties which may arise on board of the vessels 
tying in’ this port from collections of wages, illtreatment, or other 
causes, shall be adjusted before the captain of the port, to Avhom the 
interested party shall apply at any hour, day or night, according to 
the gravity of the case. 


MARACAIBO HARBOR. 


4G9 


Art. 33. All officials of the wharves, revenue officers, or inspectors 
in the service of the National Government shall strictly enforce the 
orders of the captain of the port as expressed in these regulations. 

Art. 34. The failure to comply with any of the instructions com¬ 
prised in this regulation, and which does not call for any other 
proceeding, shall render offenders liable to fines of from 100 to 200 
bolivars or to arrest and imprisonment in the public jail in accordance 
with the law, according to the judgment of the captain of the port. 

Art. 35. The fines established in the preceding article shall be paid 
to the treasury of the custom-house by order of the collector of the 
port. 

Art. 36. Captains, owners, or consignees of national and foreign 
vessels which anchor in this port, as also masters of canoes, lighters, 
boats, and craft of all descriptions, are obliged to provide themselves 
with a printed copy of these regulations, so that they may not allege 
ignorance of the duties imposed upon them. The cost of the regula¬ 
tions shall be 2 bolivars each copy, which shall be applied to the 
printing of the same. 

Art. 37. Against all the decisions of the captain of the port which 
refer to the fines mentioned in article 34 of these regulations, an 
appeal can be made to the department of war and marine. 

Art. 38. The harbor regulations issued by this office under date 
of March 31, 1875, are hereby annulled, and the present ones shall 
enter into force from the date of promulgation. 

Note. —Special attention of the captains of vessels which enter into 
this port is called to the three buoys placed to protect the submarine 
cable existing between this port and that of La Guaira. They are 
placed in a parallel line with the coast to the south, at an approximate 
distance of 400 meters from the point called “La Garita,” in the 
direction toward the island of Goaiguaza. These buoys are painted 
red and are of ellipsoid shape, crowned by a visible point, formed 
with the letters C. F. 


MARACAIBO HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. 

Nothing could be more conducive to the rapid progress of Maracaibo 
and of the section of which it is the metropolis than a safe channel to 
the city’s wharves for vessels of heavy draft. Ihe limit is now 3 
meters 20 centimeters. The harbor of Maracaibo and works will give 
much greater facilities to shipping. A sea wall of concrete has taken 
the place of the old beach, and an additional mole has been extended 
into the lake, with the object of permitting vessels to load and dis¬ 
charge directly thereon, thus doing away with the necessity of light¬ 
erage. The interior navigation of the lake and its tributary rivers is 
active and increasing in importance every year. Scarcely a day passes 
that steamers engaged in this trade do not arrive or depart, besides 
which there are many sailing vessels constantly employed. 


470 


VENEZUELA. 


MARACAIBO WHARFAGE CHARGES. 


Importation.—For receiving at the wharf, conveying to the custom¬ 
house, storing in its warehouses, transferring to the examining room, 
weighing, conveying to commercial establishments, and stowing all 
merchandise and products coming from foreign ports and national 
ports outside of Lake Maracaibo, 1.20 bolivars (23 cents) shall be 
charged for each 100 kilos (220.46 pounds) gross weight. 

For receiving and forwarding at the wharf, conveying to the com¬ 
mercial house, and there stowing all merchandise, produce, and other 
articles proceeding from the ports of Lake Maracaibo and its tributary 
rivers, 65 centimes (12 cents) shall be charged for each 100 kilos (220.46 
pounds) gross weight. 

Exportation.—For receiving at a commercial house, conveying to the 
wharf, weighing and storing there all merchandise, produce, and 
articles intended for foreign ports or national ones outside of Lake 
Maracaibo, 65 centimes (12 cents) shall be charged for every 100 
kilos (220.46 pounds) gross weight. 

Imports in transit to Colombia.—For receiving at the wharf, convey¬ 
ing to the custom-house, weighing and examining, and stowing in the 
transit warehouse all merchandise, produce, and other articles received 
from any port, 90 centimes (17 cents) shall be charged for every 100 
kilos (220.46 pounds) gross weight. 

For transferring from the transit warehouses of the custom-house 
to the wharf, and there stowing, any of the above-mentioned articles, 
30 centimes (5 cents) for every 100 kilos (220.46 pounds) gross weight. 

Baggage.—For receiving at the wharf, conveying to the custom¬ 
house, and from there to the owner’s house, the tariff on baggageshall 
be as follows: For each parcel weighing up to 20 kilos, 50 centimes; 
weighing from 21 to 70 kilos, 1 bolivar; weighing from 71 to 100 
kilos, 2 bolivars. Baggage weighing over 100 kilos shall pay at the 
rate of 50 centimes for every 50 kilos of excess, all gross weight. 

The above-mentioned rates shall be charged on baggage which is to 
be taken to places situated within the city. When taken outside of 
the city limits the price of cartage shall be arranged with the owner. 

Should owners or consignees of goods prefer not to employ wharf 
laborers in conveying their imported and exported cargoes or baggage 
(after the} 7 have passed through the custom-house), the company will 
charge one-half of the corresponding tariff on their goods. 

When the owners or consignees, with the consent of the national 
government or custom-house authorities, transship any of their mer¬ 
chandise, produce, or other goods, the company shall always charge 
one-half of the respective taxes. Small fruits, natural wood, horns, 
bones and hoofs, bark, seeds, and dye wood are excepted. 


record oe Vessels. 


471 


The owners, consignees} or shippers of wood, bark, seeds, horns, 
bones, etc., imported from Lake Maracaibo or its tributary rivers and 
intended for export to a foreign port or other national ports outside 
of the lake, are not bound to employ the wharf laborers for the trans¬ 
portation of these goods. 

When the wharf laborers perform work not covered by this tariff 
the price for said work shall be previously agreed upon between the 
interested party and the administrator of the company. 

In order to avoid difficulties in the liquidation and computation of 
accounts, all imported or exported goods of less than 100 kilos in 
weight shall be considered as of 100 kilos. 


RECORD OE VESSELS. 


The following resolution was issued on August 14, 1900, regarding 
the obligatory record of vessels in the Republic: 

Article I. All captains of vessels are under the obligation to present 
themselves, within thirty days, at the custom-house of the port at 
which they have landed with the vessel under their command to be 
inscribed, giving the name of the vessel, nationality, tonnage, and 
owner’s name. 

Art. II. The collector of customs shall record the vessels belonging 
to his jurisdiction, and shall transmit a copy of the record to the min¬ 
ister of finance and to the Bank of Venezuela. 

Art. III. In order to compile the statistics of vessels in the Repub¬ 
lic and to prevent confusion arising from two or more of these bear¬ 
ing the same name, the collectors are authorized to list them by 
stamping on the' timbers the corresponding number, as well as the 
name of the vessel. 

Art. IV. When through illness or any other justified cause a captain 
can not, or does not, desire to navigate for a certain time he will 
appoint a substitute and the collector of customs will inform the 
minister of finance, who will have the name of the proxy published in 
the Official Gazette. 


Art. V. Captains of vessels are under the obligation to present to 
the respective Collector of customs their certificate of navigation (Patente 
de Naveo-acion) at the foot of which the said collector of customs shall 
certify the name of the captain, that of the vessel, date of presentation, 
and number corresponding thereto in the record. 


OFFICIAL REGULATIONS FOR EXTRA LABOR AT PORTS OF ENTRY. 

Hitherto, owing’ to the regulations to which mail steamers with a 
fixed time-table were subject at the ports of the Republic, and which 
were all more or less vexatious, burdensome, and opuosed to the 


472 


VENEZUELA. 


development of commerce with Venezuela, whips found it almost impos¬ 
sible to unload and leave these ports on the day of their arrival. This 
difficulty has now been overcome by the following resolution framed 
by the minister of finance on June 3, and amended June 19, 1901: 

u Whereas the agents of foreign steamers which touch at Venezue¬ 
lan ports have appealed to this department, setting forth the great 
inconveniences, difficulties, and damages to which steamers having a 
fixed time-table are subject, when they have to enter and leave on the 
same day, owing to the lack of sufficient time for being dispatched and 
leaving the port, being obliged in such case to ask the customs authori¬ 
ties to allow the officers of the department to work extra hours in 
order to complete the work, for which, in many instances, they are 
made to pay such exorbitant sums as to give rise to disagreements 
and unpleasantness between the customs officials and the agejits of the 
said ships; and whereas this is due to the fact that the tariff which 
should be charged for such services as should be rendered after office 
hours on working days is not fixed; and whereas this matter has been 
brought to the notice of the President of the Republic, he, in his desire 
to afford foreign steamship enterprises which touch at our ports ’the 
utmost facilities for dispatch, as is required by the daily increasing 
trade between Venezuela and foreign countries, and in exercise of the 
power conferred on him by decree of the National Constituent Assem¬ 
bly of March 28, 1901, has ordered: 

“That the loading and unloading of steamships which have a fixed 
schedule shall be made through the custom-houses of the Republic 
between 7 a. m. and 11 a. m. and 12 m. and 4.30 p. m.; and that when 
these ships are compelled to work overtime (to 5.30 p. m.) in order to 
leave on the same day, the customs authorities shall afford them half an 
hour additional time, and in this case the agents of the said steamships 
shall pay to the officers who have rendered their services after office 
hours the sums set out below, equivalent to one day’s salary of each 
officer necessary for the performance of the work of the customs: 


1 

Bolivars. 

United 

States 

equiva¬ 

lent. 

At the ports of La Guaira and Puerto Cabello. 

150 

$28.95 
‘24.13 
19.30 

At Maracaibo and Carupano. 

125 

At the other custom-houses. 

100 



u These sums shall be distributed by the collectors of the customs 
among the officials whose services were necessary for the performance 
of the work done by the steamers during the time the custom-houses 
were kept open after office hours at their request/’ 



















RAILROADS. 


473 


BAGGAGE REGULATIONS. 

As it frequently happens that passengers arriving at Venezuelan 
ports from abroad have trouble respecting their baggage, the collector 
of customs at the port of Maracaibo has published extracts from the 
law upon the subject, defining also what may be properly considered 
as baggage, namely: 

1,4 Art. 54. The following will be considered as baggage: Clothing, 
shoes, bed, saddle, arms, professional instruments, and other articles 
already used, which are clearly for the personal use of the passenger, 
presented by him to the custom-house. Furniture, though already 
used, will not be considered as baggage, and will pay the correspond¬ 
ing duties, with discount for wear, estimated b}^ the inspectors in 
union with an expert appointed by the party interested. 

“Art. 55. Passengers may not bring among their baggage foreign 
effects which have not been used the duties upon which may exceed 
500 bolivars ($96.50), and should they exceed this sum,the goods which 
cause the excess shall be seized, although they may have been duly 
manifested. Passengers bringing among their baggage unused foreign 
effects within the limits of the maximum allowed by this article should 
declare them to the custom-house before the inspection of the bag¬ 
gage, and pay corresponding duties. Should the goods not be mani¬ 
fested before inspection, duties thereon will be paid and the goods 
declared contraband. 

“Art. 57. Baggage embarked in the West Indies must be weighed 
and examined in the section devoted to inspection by the chiefs of the 
custom-house, assisted by the commandant of the coast guard and the 
official weigher, having at sight the manifest, signed by the consul, 
which must be presented by passengers. Should this manifest of bag¬ 
gage not be presented or received at the custom-house, a fine of from 
125 to 1,000 bolivars ($24.13 to $193), according to the judgment of the 
inspectors, will be imposed, and the unused goods will be declared con¬ 
tra band.-' 


RAILROADS . a 


The immense watershed of the Orinoco, with its numerous navigable 
affluents, affords ample means of communication in the southern part 
of Venezuela. Therefore railroad lines are located to the north and 
center of the Republic. 

Different railways—The following tables, compiled from the official 
railway maps and documents issued by the public works department 
of Venezuela, show the different railway lines in operation and gave 
al! the details concerning them. 


« See railway map, compiled from 


the different official railway maps of Venezuela. 




474 


VENEZUELA 


Railway lines in operation. 


Name of railway. 


Puerto Cabello and Valencia 

Great Valencia. 

La Guaira and Caracas. 

Quanta and Naricual. 

Carenero and Guapo. 

Maiquetia and Maeuto. 

Caracas and El Valle. 

Central. 

Great La Ceiba. 

Southwestern. 

La Vela and Coro. 

Bolivar. 

Santa Barbara and Vigia... 
Great Tfiehira. 

Total (14 railways)... 






T3 







Mini- 

^ GO 




Length 


Maxi- 

mum 

r: £ 

00 

07 

Dm tp of 

of 

Gauge. 

mum 

radius 

V ~ 

£ 

G 

0 

contract. 

line. 


grade. 

of 

curves. 

2.2 

ix > 

G 

3 

•pH 

-4-5 

c3 

-*-> 





H 

CO 


Krns. 

Meters. 

Per cent. 

Meters. 





54 

1.07 

b 8 

95 

23 

1 

6 

May 15,1882 

179 

1.07 

2 

75 

212 

86 

25 

/July 8,1887 
\cApr. 18,1891 

36g 

.915 

4 

43 

10 

8 

9 

Oct. 22,1880 

36^ 

1.07 

1.50 

200 

4 

.... 

5 

/Apr. 20,1882 
/cApr. 18,1896 

33 

.915 

2 

100 

57 


5 

Apr. 18,1896 

8 

.915 

2 


8 


4 

4 

.63 

3.50 

40 



Nov. 10,1895 
Aug. 14,1896 

d 36 

1.07 

4 

50 

23 

14 

7 

90 

. 915 

2 

75 

43 

.... 

5 

May 17,1880 

88 

.61 

3.50 

45.73 

31 

• mm. 

11 

Apr. 18,1896 

13g 

.915 

.70 

117 

8 


3 

Dec. 12,1892 

885 

.61 

2 to 3.50 

36. 90 

134 


9 

Oct. 15,1873 

60 

1 

2 

100 

37 

m • m m 

3 

Apr. 18,1896 

e 115 

1.07 

.95 

75 

3 

.... 

13 

Dec. 31,1892 

842 




593 

109 

105 







Capital of 
company. 


a $4,141,000 


15,000,000 

4,175,000 

300,000 

1,570,800 
100,000 
67,200 
3,484,500 
1,600,000 
2, 777,500 
208,000 
3,136,575 
600,000 
1,500,000 


38,659,575 


Name of railway. 

Management. 

Material. 

Rollingstock. 

Fuel. 

Local. 

In Europe. 

Weight of rails 
per meter. 

Sleepers. 

Locomotives. 

Passenger cars. 

Freight cars. 




Klgs. 






Puerto Cabello 

Valencia ... 

60 New Bond 

27.2 

Wood... 

9 

13 

45 

Coal bri- 

and Valencia. 


street, Lon- 






quets. 



don E. C. 







Great Valencia.. 

Caracas. 

Unter den 

25.7 

Metallic 

18 

33 

153 

tin 



Linden 53, 








Berlin. 







La Guaira and 

.do. 

60 New Bond 

25.5 


18 

24 

123 

.do . 

Caracas. 


street, Lon- 









don E. C. 







Guantaand Nar- 

Guanta. 


20 

Wood... 

2 

10 

77 

.do .. 

icual. 









Carenero and 

Carenero ... 


22 

... do .. 

4 

5 

34 

. do 

Guapo. 









Maiquetia and 

Maeuto. 



_do_ 

2 

10 


C a r d i ff 

Maeuto. 








coal. 

Caracas and El 

Caracas. 



_do_ 

3 

8 


_tin 

Valle. 









Central. 

.. .do. 

13 0 New 

21 

Metallic 

5 

9 

31 

. do 



Bond 








street, 









London 









E. C. 







Great La Ceiba.. 

Maracaibo.. 


14-20 

Wood... 

6 

4 

17 

Wood.... 

Southwestern ... 

Aroa. 

34 Nicolas 

20 

Metallic 

4 

4 

46 

Coal 



Lane, Lon- 









don E. C. 







La Vela and 

Coro. 


16 

Wood... 

2 



. do 

Coro. 









Bolivar. 

Aroa. 

34 Nicolas 

24 

Metallic 

9 

5 

328 

do 



Lane, Lon- 









don E. C. 







Santa Barbara 









and Vigia. 









Great T&chira ... 

Maracaibo.. 



Wood... 

5 

5 

34 

Wood 











Freight 

tariff. 


Or 


1 cent per 
ton and 
kilometer. 

Do. 

$6 per ton 
going up; 
S3 per ton 
g o i n 
down. 

$5 per ton to 
Barcelona. 

$10 per ton. 


1 cent per 
ton and 
kilometer. 


24 to 40 cents 
per ton and 
kilometer. 


24 cents per 
ton and 
kilometer. 


« United States currency, taking five bolivars as equivalent to the United States dollar. 

b Cog-wheel system 4 kilometers long. 

cNew. 

d'fo Los Monos, 
e To Uraea. 











































































































6° 



2°W 


0 ° 


2 E. 


I A 


10 ° 



CORO 

•|V. / 

\ v3 / ' 

^ / 0 Sabaneta 


ptazumuro 


~J V 


/ 

/ 

/ ^ 
/ El Hac 
Moroturo ^ La luz 

oS. Miguel ) AguaFri 

f Caraquita 

T • 6 
lacangu 

Bobare 

0 Cuji 


.a Cejita 

TRUJILLO r 


CarvajaP 


BARQUISIMETGi- Yari 

R A 


Mocuyo 

o 

Sanare 

\ / 

, Guarico / Paricion 
! o 

fi 

P an^pan 

S.Ra/ael 


S 


Ti motes \ 
o ■' 


Mucuchies 






/ 

J \ Guanare'' 

Rornno 


M E R I J3 


✓ 



/fArton»0 pANCRISTOf 


/« AVES 


A 




ORCHILA 


C A 


to,' 

R I B B E A JST 


. P ta S JUAN 


OTA CHICHIRIVICJ 1 I 

A* 




i BLA/Vgo/U^ 

0 ^ 

. _ Ozay //ERMA/vos 

SEA 


12 


d a a LA TORTUGA 
6 ^ 


CABO CODERA 




yw. 



CUBAGUA 


'piopor'®^ 

( ^COCHE 


Morro CHAcopaJa _ 



Aragua 

R ^ LT T) E 


I0 C 


Unca 


0 S.Joaquin o 

S Ana Cantaura 


^ -sCacbi 

M ( ° J 

./ V.-' 

Pariaguan 
°Pao 





Tabaro 1 S Pe<iro 

o 


A 

RAILWAY MAP 

of the United States of 

VENEZUELA 

1904 


Scale 

Statute Miles 


20 10 


20 40 

Kilometers 


50 


CP 


1 


30 15 


30 


60 


90 


• Railways built 

• Do. under construction 


6P 


M Hendq 


?E. 


ANDREW 6 GRAHAM PHOTO L/TH0 WASHINGTON 0C 

































































































































































' • • 








• ' . t \ : , 








, 
















































































































































































RAILROADS. 


475 


Railway lines.—As will be seen by the foregoing table, there are 14 
different railway lines, with an aggregate capital of $88,659,575 
American gold. 

Railway mileage.—The aggregate mileage of these 14 railway lines 
is 842 kilometers. 

Stations, tunnels, viaducts.—The aggregate number of stations is 105, 
that of tunnels 109, and that of viaducts 593, the Great Valencia Rail¬ 
way alone having 212 viaducts and 86 tunnels. 

Rolling stock.—By the end of 1903 the data available show that the 
aggregate number of locomotives in operation was 8T, that of passen¬ 
ger cars 120, and that of freight cars 588. 

Caracas and La Guaira Railway.—This line puts in communication a 
center of over 100,000 inhabitants with its principal port and carries all 
the traffic of the capital and of the railroads which have there their 
terminus. 

The report of the La Guaira and Caracas Railway Company for the 
year 1900 shows that the gross revenue was £68,381 and that the 
working expenses amounted to the sum of £40,757. As compared 
with the figures for 1899 the gross revenue shows a decrease of 
£6,903 and the working expenses a decrease of £1,924. The directors 
propose to transfer from the reserve account the sum of £3,890 and 
to pay a dividend for the year 1900 at the rate of 4 per cent. The 
decrease of £6,903 in the traffic receipts was attributable as to £4,887 
to a diminution in earnings from goods and as to £2,579 to a falling 
off in passenger travel, while sundry receipts showed an increase of 
£562. 


The report for the year 1903 states that the gross revenue was 
£61,433, and the working expenses amounted to £38,175. As com¬ 
pared with 1902 the gross revenue shows an increase of £4,877 and 
the working expenses a decrease of £463. The balance of revenue 
account, including interest and transfer fees, etc., amounts to £24,158, 
from which is deducted the debit balance from 1902, debenture inter¬ 
est, loss on exchange, etc., leaving a balance at credit of net revenue 
on December 31 of £4,517. The directors propose to pay a dividend 
at the rate of 1 per cent for the } T ear, absorbing £3,500, and to add to 
improvement and renewal account the sum of £1,000, leaving £17 to 
be carried forward. At the meeting of June 2, 1904, a report was 
adopted of which the following is an abstract : a The expenses in the 
two years—1902 and 1903—were practically the same. The line had 
been kept in a proper state of repair, and some alterations and 
improvements had been effected. After making all deductions there 
remained a balance at net revenue account of £4,517, out of which it 
was proposed to pay a dividend of 1 per cent, absorbing £3,500, to 


«South American Journal, June 4, 1904. 






VENEZUELA. 


476 


place £1,000 to the credit of the improvement and renewal fund, and 
to carry forward the small surplus of £17. 

The net result of the working* of the line for the first four months 
of 1904 was an amount of £15,250, against £5,000 for the correspond¬ 
ing period of 1903. The Anglo-Venezuelan Mixed Commission had 
given an award in favor of the company for £9,725. There was 
practically no dispute as to the amount, and, probably, had there been 
no commission it would have been acknowledged and paid by the 
Government in the usual way. It did not have to go before the 
umpire, because the British commissioner and the Venezuelan com¬ 
missioner agreed that the sum was due. The board hoped that before 
long the company would receive a considerable payment on account 
of the award and that the rest would be paid within a reasonable 
period. 

The following table gives the heights above the sea level of the 
stations of the Caracas and La Guaira Railway. 


Station. 

Heights above 
sea level. 

Station. 

! 

Heights above 
sea level. 

La Guaira. 

Meters. 

1.82 

Feet. 

6 

Pena de Moro. 

Meters. 
698.21 

Feet. 

2,295 
2,287 
2,903 
2,892 
3,135 

Maiquetia. 

15.24 

50 

Ojo de Agua. 

690.67 

Rincon . 

91.44 

300 

Cantinas. 

884. 53 

Tunnel No. 1. 

203. 91 

669 

El Chorro. 

881.18 

Curucuti . 

000.76 

1,971 

Catia. 

954. 93 

Tunnel No. 2. 

401.11 

i; 3i6 
1,533 

2,029 

Agua Salud. 

919.89 

3,020 

2,984 

Zig-Zag:. 

467. 25 

Caracas . 

909.02 

Boqueron . 

618.12 



Great Valencia Railway.—The great line of Caracas to Valencia, 
through La Victoria, Cagua, and Maracay, crosses the most populous 
rural districts of the Republic. This line runs along the high moun¬ 
tain slopes of Las Mostazas and reaches the fertile valleys of Aragua 
and of the Lake of Valencia, and is bound to become of great impor¬ 
tance in the near future. It carries to Caracas and to Valencia the 
numerous products of the neighboring plantations and those brought 
through the Valencia Lake and from the plains (llanos) by way of 
Cagua, Villa de Cura, and Calabozo. 

According to the original contract the Government engaged to pay 7 
per cent on £12,800 per kilometer of the first section (Caracas-Cagua). 
In 1888 the Grosse Eisenbahn-actien Gesellschaft was established with 
a capital of $2,500,000, aided by the Diskonto Gesellschaft, of Berlin, 
and the Norddeutsche Bank, of Hamburg. In 1891 a new contract 
was granted, according to which the Government engaged to pay 7 per 
cent on £11,000 per kilometer of line. On February 1, 1894, when 
the line was inaugurated, the company claimed $1,114,703 for the 
Valencia-Cagua section, $578,525 for the Caracas-Cagua section, and 
$306,800 for alleged damages. In 1894 a new agreement was con¬ 
cluded, and a considerable part of the claims was settled bv arbi- 



































RAILROADS. 


477 


tration. In 1896, according to another agreement, the Diskonto 
Gesellschaft, of Berlin, issued a Venezuelan loan of $10,000,000, hear¬ 
ings per cent, with 1 per cent sinking fund, the loan to be issued at 80 
per cent of par and the Government to appropriate $600,000 per annum 
for the service of the loan. Of this loan $7,200,000 in bonds were 
handed over to the railroad company in full settlement of all claims. 
Arrears of settlement, due to a certain extent to fortuitous circum¬ 
stances and to superior force and, above all, misunderstandings of a 
serious nature, brought the matter to a climax when Germany formed 
part of the naval military demonstration which took place in 1903. 

This railroad company, with an invested capital of about $15,000,000, 
has been able to distribute in 1896 a dividend of 1 per cent, in 1897 
2 per cent, and in 1898, 1899, and 1900 one-half per cent after seven 
years of exploitation. 

Puerto Cabello and Valencia Railway.—This line runs from the port 
to the second city of Venezuela, which is a terminus of the roads lead¬ 
ing to the sugar region of Nirgua, toward the coffee plantations which 
lie to the south and toward the llanos, whence live stock is transported 
to the seacoast for exportation abroad. 

Puerto Cabello, a cit} r of about 15,000 inhabitants, is justly cele¬ 
brated as possessing one of the finest seaports on the entire north 
coast of South America. In it are united the three conditions of 
ease of access, safety, and deep water up to the wharves of the city. 
Besides these advantages, the harbor is commodious and several ocean 
steamers may load and discharge simultaneously. This favorable cir¬ 
cumstance has given great importance to the city, which the proximity 
of Valencia has greatl} T increased. 

Valencia, having an elevation of nearly 500 meters above sea level, 
its distance from Puerto Cabello being 54 kilometers, the engineers 
at times found many difficulties to be encountered, and it was feared 
that the returns of the road when in operation would not be pro¬ 
portionate to the expenses of construction; but a company was finally 
organized in England and the work commenced. 

There are no places on the line between Puerto Cabello and Valencia 
worthv of special description except Las Trincheras, where a thermal 
and sanitary establishment attracts invalids from all parts of the 
country, and even from Curasao and other neighboring islands. How¬ 
ever, but little was expected from the way traffic, the road being 
especially constructed to give speedy and regular transport to the coast 
of the productions of the great agricultural region of which Valencia 
is the center and for the transportation to the interior of the merchan¬ 
dise from abroad introduced at Puerto Cabello. 

On the line from Puerto Cabello to Valencia there are many thou¬ 
sands of hectares lying absolutely idle where are united the conditions 
of fertile soil, mild and healthful climate, and an abundant water 


478 


VENEZUELA. 


supply. Had the company from the beginning established settlements 
in this district its position to-day would be a very different one. 

Railways attract population, and in the case of Venezuela and other 
countries similarly situated it must come from abroad. 

Although the Puerto Cabello road does not pass through a country 
of so much interest as does the line from Caracas to Valencia, where, 
after leaving the mountains, villages and towns follow each other in 
rapid succession, many of these being of importance and of historical 
note, it is yet the great connecting link between the central interior 
and the coast, and as such will eventually more than realize all the 
anticipations of its projectors. 

Its interests and those of the Great Venezuela Railway are to a cer¬ 
tain extent identical, both having the same terminus—the city of 
Valencia. United they form a continuous route from Puerto Cabello, 
on the coast, to Caracas, the capital of the Republic, which is, in its 
turn, united with its seaport, La Guaira, by the railway opened in 
1883. Thus the circle is complete and the advantages which must ulti¬ 
mately be derived from this achievement of modern engineering are 
obvious. 

With the continuance of peace, which now seems assured, and the 
improvement which is confidently looked for in the economic condi¬ 
tions of the country, the Puerto Cabello and Valencia Company justly 
expect an increase of business which will soon compensate for past 
losses, and there are sanguine anticipations that the coming year may 
usher in a period of permanent and increasing prosperity. 


History of the Puerto Cabello and Yalencia Pailway. a 


This line was registered in 1885 at a time when the La Guaira and 
Caracas Railway, which had been in existence a few years, seemed to 
be a prosperous undertaking. The same directors control the two 
companies, but the Puerto Cabello has never been as successful as the 
La Guaira. The concession for this line was for ninety-nine years, 
and it was granted a guaranty of 7 per cent per annum on a capital of 
£820,000. The present capital is £460,000 in £10 shares, and £360,000 
in 7 per cent debentures. This line was opened in 1886 and runs a 
distance of 54 kilometers, starting from Puerto Cabello. The chief 
business of the line is to cany the products of the great agricultural 
districts of the interior down to the coast, and of the quick and regular 
transportation inland of the merchandise from abroad introduced at 
Puerto Cabello. 

Earnings of the past .—For the year 1887 the gross receipts of this 

line amounted to £56,471, and the expenses to £27,992. In 1890 a 

- __ _ ____ ,__ __ 

a Abstract from South American Journal, Feb. 13, 1904. 


i 




RAILROADS. 


479 


settlement was made with the Government, which settled the amount 
due by it, and in consequence a dividend of 8 per cent was paid. In 
1891 the shareholders agreed to the guaranty being reduced from 
7 per cent to 5 per cent per annum. During the last ten years the 
gross earnings have declined from £59,339 in 1894 to £21,933 in 1902, 
although the figures for 1903 are better at £34,850, while the net 
receipts, which were £21,966 in 1894 and £29,796 two years later, 
were only £1,513 for 1902. The following table gives the statistics 
for each of the past ten years, the figures for 1903 being estimated: 


Year. 

Gross re¬ 
ceipts.- 

Working 

expenses. 

Net re¬ 
ceipts. 

Arrears. 

Total 

guar¬ 

anty. 

Deben¬ 

ture 

interest. 

1903 <». 

£34,850 
21,933 
31,193 
37,298 
44,864 
35,131 
46,629 
60, 472 
59,069 
59,339 

£24,8.50 
20, 419 
26,244 
25,843 
26,016 
24,002 
26,299 
30, 676 
30,252 
37,373 

£10,000 
1,513 
4,949 
11,455 
18,848 
11,128 
20,329 
29, 796 
28,817 
21,966 

£300,000 
261,440 
222,159 
186, 354 
157,146 
135,166 
105,306 
84, 946 
73,935 
61,759 

£101,150 
71,400 
47,600 
29, 750 
17,850 
16,150 

1902. 

1901. 

1900. 

1899. 

1898. 

1897. 

1896. 


1895. 


1894. 





QUOTATIONS. 



Outstanding 

amount. 

1899. 

1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 



High 

est. 

Low¬ 

est. 

High¬ 

est. 

Low¬ 

est. 

High¬ 

est. 

Low¬ 

est. 

High¬ 

est. 

Low¬ 

est, 

High¬ 

est. 

Low¬ 

est. 

1904. 

Ordinary£10 shares 

7 per cent deben- 

£460,000 

2 1 

^*4 

1J 

U 

li 

2 

1 

U 

1 

2* 

R 

34 

tures. 

340,000 

92 

78 

89 

73 

77 

69 

71 

65 

751 

714 

100 


a Estimated. Debenture interest in arrears is to date. 


On March 28, 1904, the company was awarded £231,000 in settle¬ 
ment of its claims. 

The Carenero-Quapo. —This line carries the cacao from Rio Chico, 
Caucagua, and the river Tit} 7 , as well as sugar, coffee, corn, and hides 
for the La Guaira market. 

Quanta to Naricual. —This line was constructed originally to carry 
the mining products of the Naricual mines and of the valleys of 
Naricual, Caripicual, and Aragua. 

Tucacas to Barquisimeto.-- This line leads to the Aroa copper mines 
and then.ce to the city of Barquisimeto. It carries part of the agri¬ 
cultural products of the Andes, which terminate in Barquisimeto, where 
the goods imported are brought. It crosses extensive forests, which 
are being exploited. 

La Vela and Coro— This line carries the traffic of the region, which 

consists mainly of cofiee and hides. 

La Ceiba and Motatan.— This line is one of the three lines which lead 
to Maracaibo from the east. It has its terminus at a place 9 kilo¬ 
meters distant from Valera, which is the commercial center of all the 






































































480 


VENEZUELA. 


rich valleys of the extensive region comprised between Merida and 
Tocuvo. 

Santa Barbara and El Vigia.—This line was intended to reach Merida, 
but has not yet been completed. 


Encontrados and TJraca.—This lines carries the traffic of the fertile 
topographical depression from the Tachira to the south of San Cristo¬ 
bal and transports the products which are exported through the Zulia- 
Catatumbo River. 


RAILROAD LAW.<* 

By the terms of the new railroad law of Venezuela the President is 
authorized to make contracts for the construction and operation of 
railroads in the Republic. He may grant concessions for ninety-nine 
years, at the expiration of which time the railways, with all their 
rolling stock, offices, and every other appurtenance, revert to the 
Government. 

Article 2 authorizes the Government to grant exclusive right for 
the operation and construction of railroads for ninety-nine years. 

The law reserves to the Government the right to buy, at its option, 
the railroad lines and their equipment after they have been in actual 
service for a period of twenty-five years, reckoned from the date of 
their official inauguration. In case the Government desires to take 
this action, the management of the company will be served with six 
months’ notice of its intention to purchase the road, either by appraise¬ 
ment, pa}dng an allowance of 20 per cent above the commercial value 
of the property, or by paying for the property the value represented 
by its stock, with an addition of 10 per cent, the amount to be paid 
at the time of transfer. 

According to article 4, the railroads shall be divided into provisory 
and permanent roads. The provisory roads shall have a width between 
the rails (gauge) of 75 centimeters and a minimum curve radius of 30 
meters. The permanent lines shall have a gauge of 1.07 meters 
(3 feet 6 inches) and a minimum radius of curve of 60 meters. The 
grade of either line shall not exceed 3 per cent unless a special system 
of construction is emploj-ed. 

By article 5, in order to encourage the construction of railroads in 
cases where the public service seems to demand them, the Government 
is authorized to contribute, by paying a stipulated sum as each section 
of 20 kilometers is declared ready for traffic. This subsidy is limited 
to 10,000 bolivars per kilometer of road constructed on level ground, 
20,000 bolivars on swampy or broken ground, and 30,000 bolivars on 
mountainous ground. 

By article 6 the contractor or constructing company which under¬ 
takes the work is required to make a deposit of from 50,000 to 100,000 


a Enacted May 31, 1897. 




TRAMWAYS. 


481 


bolivars in gold, or its equivalent in Venezuelan public funds, said 
deposit to be returned to the contracting parties after the completion 
of the first section of 20 kilometers of the line. The law requires that 
the work shall be begun within a stipulated time, after the approval 
of the contract, and this time can not exceed twelve months. The 
precise time for the termination of the work and the opening of the 
railroad to the public service must also be duly stipulated. 

The party applying for the concession must submit to the Govern¬ 
ment the survey and general profiles of the line three months before 
commencing work, so they may be submitted for approval before the 
National Congress. This period shall be extended only in cases 
wherein unavoidable delay tias occurred. 

The rates of freight and passenger fares must be subject to the 
approval of the National Government, liable to be lowered whenever 
the proceeds of the railroad shall exceed 12 per cent on the value of 
the capital stock. All cases of contention on the part of the company 
shall be submitted to arbitration. 

Article 11 establishes the right to condemn all ground needed for 
railroad stations, offices, and stores on both sides of the track, the 
company paying for the same. All material, machinery, and imple¬ 
ments necessary for the construction and operation of the road and 
buildings will be admitted free of duty upon the fulfillment of the 
usual formalities. All new lines of railway shall conform in gauge to 
those with which they connect. The narrowest gauge that shall be 
admitted shall be 1 meter. 

The general offices of the company must be either in the capital of 
the Republic or in the city at one of the termini of the line, but it must 
always have an authorized representative at the national capital. This 
shall not prevent them from having also foreign headquarters. No 
transfer of the property shall be made without the approval of the 
Government. 

TRAMWAYS. 

Besides the two tramway lines of Caracas—the Bolivar and the 
Caracas Companies, the latter having a capital of $160,000—there are 
similar lines at Valencia, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Ciudad Bolivar, 
Barquisimeto, Carupano, and other important cities of Venezuela. 

POSTAL SERVICE. 

Universal Postal Union— Venezuela has belonged to the Universal 
Postal Union since 1880, and has contributed her share to the inter¬ 
national office at Berne. 

Postal service.—The postal service in Venezuela is a branch of public 
administration which depends directly upon the fomento department. 

4a—04-31 



482 


VENEZUELA. 


Post-offices.—There is a principal post-office at Caracas, a principal 
city office in the capital of each State of the Union, and substa¬ 
tions where the Executive shall direct. All post-offices are dependent 
upon the Caracas principal office and the substations upon the State 
principal offices. Certain offices are especially authorized to effect the 
international postal service. 

According to the last official report (1904) of the fomento depart¬ 
ment, there existed on December 31,1903, 28 principal post-offices and 
186 substations. For tlie maintenance of the post-offices of the Republic 
the sum of $45,689.16 was spent by the Government. 

Correspondence.—Articles 20 to 49 of the postal law in force estab¬ 
lish what is to be considered ordinary and official correspondence— 
postal cards, commercial papers, printed matter, and samples. Since 
October 3, 1903, a special service for newspaper packages has been 
organized at the principal post-office of Caracas. 

For the transportation of correspondence within the Republic the 
sum of $105,000 is set aside yearly. 

The following tables, taken from the last official report (1904) of the 
fomento department, show the movement of the postal service in 
Venezuela during 1903. 


CARACAS PRINCIPAL POST-OFFICE. 

Domestic statistics. 


CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED DURING 1903. 


Letters. 

Official correspondence . 

Postal cards. 

Registered. 

Samples. 

Printed matter. 

Telegraph packages. 

Packages from the office 
Sundry packages. 


Number. 
203,097 
62, 834 
9,962 
37, 325 
2, 343 
171, 452 
2, 382 
6, 504 
863 


CORRESPONDENCE DISPATCHED DURING 1903. 


Letters.. 

Official correspondence,. 

Postal cards. 

Registered. 

Samples. 

Printed matter. 

Telegraph packages. 

Packages from the office 
Sundry packages. 


179,598 
45, 906 
34, 962 
26, 239 
5, 728 
258, 062 

4, 487 

5, 345 
2, 354 




















POSTAL SERVICE. 


483 


Foreign statistics. 

CORRESPONDENCE DISPATCHED ABROAD DURING 1903. 

Number. 


Registered. 6 , 645 

Official correspondence. 7 , 771 

Letters. 107, 359 

Postal cards. 25,814 

Printed matter. 66 , 868 

Samples. 18, 227 


Correspondence dispatched through the principal post-offices of Venezuela. 

DOMESTIC STATISTICS. 


Received: Number. 

Letters. 657, 373 

Official correspondence. 65,433 

Postal cards.„. 10, 641 

Registered. 28, 076 

Samples. 7, 656 

Printed matter. 769, 714 

Telegraph packages. 786 

Packages from other offices. 31, 094 

Sundry packages. 5,918 

Dispatched: 

Letters. 594,032 

Official correspondence. 71, 916 

Postal cards. 14,944 

Registered. 37, 692 

Samples. 13, 864 

Printed matter. 493,651 

Telegraph packages. 786 

Packages from other offices. 22, 718 

Packages from sundry offices. 2 , 652 

FOREIGN STATISTICS. 

Received: 

Letters. 467,025 

Official correspondence. 792 

Postal cards. 36,604 

Registered .. 39, 213 

Samples. 36, 942 

Printed matter. 393, 098 

Dispatched: 

Letters. 33,152 

Official correspondence. 203 

Postal cards. O '35 

Registered. . 4,529 

Samples. 524 

Printed matter. 33, 218 






































484 


VENEZUELA. 


Correspondence dispatched through substations. 


m DOMESTIC STATISTICS. 

Received: Number. 

Letters. 860, 763 

Official correspondence. 10, 312 

Postal cards. 18, 214 

Registered. 23,106 

Samples. 7, 321 

Printed matter. . 1, 951, 295 

Telegraph packages. 11, 049 

Packages from other offices. 21,123 

Sundry packages. 13, 603 

Dispatched: 

Letters. 1,104,521 

Official correspondence. 9, 637 

Postal cards. 9, 845 

Registered. 34,324 

Samples. 15, 613 

Printed matter. 1, 245, 834 

Telegraph packages. 10, 805 

Packages from other offices. 8, 219 

Sundry packages. 9, 832 


Postage stamps.—Title VI, which comprises articles 50 to 52 of the 
above-mentioned law, establishes everything regarding the use of 
ordinary and official postage stamps in Venezuela. 

Parcels post.—The international parcels-post service is carried on 
according to the provisions of the respective convention, and the intro¬ 
duction of such parcels is subject to pay import duties and transit tax 
according to their contents. (Arts. 70-71.) 

During the year 1903 the parcels imported in Venezuela amounted 
to 4,923 and those exported to 223. These figures do not include the 
Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo statistics. The Caracas exchange office 
collected $15,728.03 import duty on parcels. 

Parcels-post convention with the United States.—The Gaceta Oficial 
of Caracas, of January 11, 1901, contains the full text of the new par¬ 
cels-post convention made between Venezuela and the United States. 
This treaty was ratified by Venezuela on January 9, 1901. 

According to the provisions of the agreement the treaty refers 
exclusively to parcels and packages, and does not in any way affect the 
existing arrangements under the Universal Postal Convention, which 
continues in force. 

The rates of postage will be as follows: In Venezuela, for parcels 
that do not weigh more than 1 pound (or 460 grams), 75 centimes of a 
bolivar; in the United States, the postage on parcels of the same weight, 
and for every additional pound or fraction thereof, will be at the rate 
of 12 cents per pound. 

The person mailing each parcel shall make a customs declaration in 
duplicate, a copy of which shall be fixed on the outside of the parcel, 





















TELEGRAPH SERVICE. 


485 


and shall contain a general description and an exact statement of its 
contents and value, as well as the date of the remittance and the signa¬ 
ture and residence of the sender. 

The following articles are prohibited from the mails: Publications 
which violate the copyright law of the country to which they are sent; 
poisons, explosive and inflammable materials; fatty substances and 
liquids and such as easily liquefy; confectionery and pastry; live and 
dead animals except insects and perfectly dried reptiles; fruits and 
vegetables which decompose easily; substances which emit a bad odor; 
lottery tickets, notices, and circulars; obscene or immoral objects, and 
articles which may destroy or in any way injure the post bags or the 
persons who handle the mail, etc. 

TELEGRAPH SERVICE. 

First telegraph line.—The first telegraph line was established in Ven¬ 
ezuela in 1856 between Caracas, La Guaira, La Victoria, Valencia, 
and Puerto Cabello. The operators were Americans, and the Morse 
system and Grove battery were used. 

Telegraph system.—The telegraph system of Venezuela is owned and 
operated by the Government and is directly controlled by the f omen to 
department. Eve^thing regarding the telegraph management and 
service, as well as the construction of new lines and the repairing and 
reconstruction of existing lines, depends also upon said department. 

Special lines.—Special telegraph lines can only be allowed for the 
service of railway companies, but these lines, as also telephone or 
electric-light lines, must be at least 4 meters distant from any national 
line. 

Telegraph lines.—The national telegraph system is divided into 18 
circuits and the stations into 3 classes. There are 20 of the first 
class, 30 of the second, and 84 of the third. At present there are 129 
telegraph offices in operation. 

Telegraph mileage.—The total length of the telegraph lines of Ven- 
ezula was 0,480 kilometers on December 31, 1903. 

Material for the lines.—During the year 1903 the Government of 
Venezuela imported from the United States of America 1,896 pack¬ 
ages containing material, elements of batteries, apparatus, etc., weigh¬ 
ing 81,404 kilos and costing $15,481.33. 

Telegraph budget.—The general telegraph budget during 1903 reached 
the sum of $200,794.52. The Government has paid to the cable com¬ 
pany for official cablegrams, sent from Venezuela during the same 
period, the sum of $3,045. 

Telegraph receipts.—The receipts of the telegraph lines during 1903 
amounted to $35,739.75. 

Telegraph rates.—By resolution of the fomento department, of 
July 10, 1901, the telegraph rates were established, and by another 


480 


VENEZUELA. 


resolution of the same department of February 20, 1904, the name of 
one addressee and of one sender and place where the telegram is sent 
count as one word. 

Places in the text of the telegram shall be reckoned according to 
number of words. Addresses are registered at the rate of $10 a year, 
paid quarterly in advance. 

Subfluvial cables.—The Government has laid a cable in the bed of the 
Orinoco, connecting Soledad with Ciudad Bolivar, thus enabling a 
telegraphic dispatch to be sent from Caracas to the latter town with¬ 
out interruption and, through the Government’s lines, to the extreme 
southeast of the telegraph system. 

To connect the town of Maracaibo with the northwest telegraph s} r s- 
tem the Government has laid a cable in the bed of the Maracaibo Lake, 
connecting Los Puertos de Altagracia to the former town. 

TELEPHONE SERVICE. 

Through concessions granted by the Government to American com¬ 
panies this service is already well established in Venezuela and is 
being gradually extended to various sections of the country. 

The Intercontinental Company began its operations in August, 1883, 
and to December 31, 1888, had mounted 776 instruments in Caracas, 
La Guaira, Valencia, and Puerto Cabello. Besides the communica¬ 
tions established within these cities, lines from Caracas to La Guaira 
and from Valencia to Puerto Cabello are also maintained. This com¬ 
pany had on November 30, 1890, 1,477 subscribers in connection with 
its various offices and a daily average of 6,000 calls. 

The American Company began operations in 1888 and has established 
its service in Caracas, La Guaira, Maracaibo, and Antimano. Arrange¬ 
ments are in active progress for the establishment of its service in the 
cities of Ciudad Bolivar, La Victoria, Guatire, Guarenas, San Cristo¬ 
bal, and Rubio. The company has introduced into Venezuela 1,350 
telephonic instruments, 1,400 miles of wire, and all the other necessary 
apparatus and appliances for first-class service. It is estimated that 
there are at present about 3,000 apparatuses at Caracas in operation. 

According to the report of the department of agriculture, industry, 
and commerce for 1899, there were 12 telephone companies in Vene¬ 
zuela, operating 5,214 kilometers of wire, their aggregate capital 
amounting to $75,000, of which companies 2 were at Caracas and 1 at 
each of the following places, viz: Tocu}m, Barquisimeto, Ciudad Boli¬ 
var, Barcelona, Coro, Valencia, Maracaibo, San Cristobal, Rubio, and 
Merida. 

According to the last official report (1904) of the fomento department, 
the Government has begun to establish an official telephone service in 
the Federal district, on which it has spent already about $9,000. The 
line will have, when completed, an extension of 295 kilometers and 


CABLE SERVICE. 487 

will place in communication all the public departments and offices. 
One hundred apparatuses have been already installed. 

CABLE SERVICE. 

Telegraphic communication with foreign countries is established by 
means of the submarine cables. The Government has entered into a 
contract with the French Cable Company and has national fiscal agents 
at its cable offices of Caracas and La Guaira. 

Submarine communication is effected from Paris through Brest, 
New York, Dominican Republic, and Curasao, whence two cables are 
laid to Venezuela. One runs to La Vela and Maracaibo and the other 
to La Guaira, where it touches, one branch going to the west from La 
Guaira-Puerto Cabello and the other to the east from La Guaira to 
Carenero, Guanta, Cumana, Porlamar (Margarita Island), and Caru- 
pano. The rate per word to the United States is $1.50. The French 
Cable Company makes a reduction of 50 per cent on press dispatches. 

CONTRACT WITH THE FRENCH CABLE COMPANY. 

On Jul}" 3,1900, the Venezuelan Government entered into a contract 
with the French Cable Company, of which the following is an abstract: 

“Article 1. The Government grants the company permission to lay 
telegraph wires to unite the submarine cables from their terminals to 
the offices established, or which may be established, allowing the land 
line which will unite the terminals at Guanta with the office at Barce¬ 
lona to follow the railroad which connects that port with the city. 

“Art. 2. Being aware of the technical difficulties attending the 
laying of submarine cables between Carupano and Ciudad Bolivar 
through the bed of the Orinoco River, the company agrees to la}" a 
river cable between Ciudad Bolivar and Soledad, which shall be the 
property of the nation and which shall unite the cable at Soledad with 
the national telegraph line which runs from that point to Barcelona, 
under the following conditions: 

“ (a) The company shall establish a cable service via the national 
telegraph line which connects Soledad with Barcelona, paying therefor 
the tariff it now pays on telegrams transmitted to the interior; that is 
to say, 0.05 of a bolivar per word. 

“ (),) The company shall contribute one-half the expenses of keeping 
in repair the overland line from Soledad to Barcelona and of the 
subfluvial line from Ciudad Bolivar to Soledad. 

“(c) The maximum of repairs to the last-mentioned lines, as per 
mutual agreement, is fixed at 10,000 bolivars annually. The 5,000 
bolivars annually which the French Cable Company agrees to pay shall 
be paid by it to the order of the fomento department in quarterly 
installments in advance, counting from July 1 last. 


488 


VENEZUELA. 


“ {d) Neither the concession nor the contribution to which this article 
refers shall give any right whatever to the company to interfere with 
the service of the national line, the company having only the right to 
officially address the fomento department advising in regard to any 
obstructions which may occur upon the line. 

“Art. 3. The compan}^ shall not have the authority to increase or 
diminish the present tariff without the previous consent of the Gov¬ 
ernment. In case of the interruption of one of the cables of the com¬ 
pany it may make use of the cables of other companies to secure inter¬ 
national service and shall collect the rates of said companies during 
said interruption. 

“Art. 4. Although the company is exempted from all taxes, not 
onl} r by its contract made with the Government on January 3,1895, and 
approved by Congress on April 23 of the same year, but also b}^ article 
19, LXXXYI, of the International Telegraphic Convention, it shall be 
obliged to stamp each cablegram transmitted with 0.25 centimos of 
bolivar. 

“Art. 5. The Government grants the company until December 31, 
1900, in which to lay the subfluvial cable between Ciudad Bolivar and 
Soledad which shall complete the coast-line system of the company. 

“Art. 6 . The company acknowledges receipt from the National Gov¬ 
ernment of 64,261.55 bolivars due for official cablegrams from the first 
quarter of 1895 to date, and all claims of the company against the Gov¬ 
ernment are hereby withdrawn. 

“Art. 7. All questions and controversies that ma}^ arise as to the 
interpretation and execution of this contract shall be settled in accord¬ 
ance with the laws of Venezuela and by the courts of the Republic 
and shall in no case give rise to international claims.” 


INDEX TO CHAPTER XI. 


Page. 

Means of communication. 455 

Interior communication. 455 

Navigation. 455 

Communication with foreign countries. 455 

Steamship lines. 455 

Trans-Atlantic lines... _ 455 

Red “D” Line.. 455 

The Royal Mail Steamship Company. 456 

The Harrison Steamship Company. 456 

The West India and Pacific Steamship Company. 456 

Compagnie Gen^rale Trans-Atlantique. 456 

Koninglijke West Indische Mail Dienst.. 456 

Hamburg-American Steamship Company. 456 

Companfa Transathlntica Espanola. 456 

LaVeloce. 456 

Orinoco navigation. 456 

Shipping returns. 456 

Maracaibo, 1899 (table). 456 

Ciudad Bolivar, 1899 (table). 457 

La Guaira, 1900 (table). 457 

Puerto Cabello, 1900. 457 

Maracaibo, 1900 (table). 458 

Ciudad Bolivar, 1900 (table). 458 

La Guaira, 1901 (table). 458 

Puerto Cabello, 1901 (table). 458 

Maracaibo, 1901 (table). 459 

Ciudad Bolivar, 1901 (table). 459 

La Guaira, 1902 (table). 459 

Maracaibo, 1902 (table). 459 

La Guaira, 1903 (table). 460 

Orinoco navigation (renewal). 461 

La Guaira Harbor Corporation. 463 

La Guaira wharfage dues. 464 

Import and export tariff. 465 

Foreign. 465 

Coastwise. 465 

La Guaira water dues. 465 

Wharf improvements at Puerto Cabello. 465 

Harbor regulations at Puerto Cabello. 466 

Maracaibo harbor improvements. 469 

Maracaibo wharfage charges. 470 

Record of vessels. 471 

Official regulations for extra labor at ports of entry. • - 471 

Baggage regulations. 473 


489 















































490 VENEZUELA. 

Page. 

Railroads. 473 

Different lines in operation (tables). 473 

Railway lines. 475 

Railway mileage. 475 

Stations, tunnels, viaducts. 475 

Rolling stock. 475 

Caracas and La Guaira Railway. 475 

Height of stations above sea level. 476 

Great Valencia Railway. 476 

Puerto Cabello and Valencia Railway. 477 

History of. 478 

Earnings of the past. 478 

Carenero-Guapo. 479 

Guanta to Naricual. 479 

Tucacas to Barquisimeto. 479 

La Vela and Coro. 479 

La Ceiba and Motahin. 479 

Santa Barbara and El Vigfa. 480 

Encontrados and Uracd. 480 

Railroad law. 480 

Tramways. 481 

Postal service. 481 

Universal Postal Union. 481 

Postal service. 481 

Post-offices. 482 

Correspondence. 482 

Caracas principal post-office. 482 

Correspondence received during 1903 (number table). 482 

Correspondence dispatched during 1903 (table). 482 

Correspondence dispatched abroad during 1903 (table). 483 

Correspondence dispatched through principal post-offices of Venezuela. 483 

Domestic statistics received (table). 483 

Domestic statistics dispatched (table). 483 

Foreign statistics received. 483 

Foreign statistics dispatched. 483 

Correspondence through substations. 484 

Received (table). 484 

Dispatched (table). 484 

Postage stamps. 484 

Parcels post. 484 

Parcels Post Convention with the United States. 484 

Telegraph service... 485 

First telegraph line. 485 

Telegraph system. 485 

Special lines. 485 

Telegraph lines. 485 

Telegraph mileage. 485 

Material for the lines. 485 

Telegraph budget. 485 

Telegraph receipts. 485 

Telegraph rates. 485 

Subfluvial cables.*.. 486 

Telephone service. 486 

Cable service. 487 

Contract with the French Cable Company. 487 
























































CHAPTER Xn. 

IMMIGRATION AND COLONIZATION—LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 


PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS OF THE IMMIGRATION LAW. 

Classification of immigrants.—Immigrants are classified as follows: 
(1) Those arriving without contract; (2) those under contract with 
some of the States; (3) those under contract with private individuals 
or companies; (I) those who come to work in colonies on public land 
belonging to private persons; (5) those for colonies on private land; 
(6) those engaged by the Government to work in colonies. 

Inducements.—The Government allows the following: (1) Free 
transportation from the starting place to that of destination at the 
main immigrant depots; (2) landing and living expenses for thirty 
days after their arrival; (3) free import of belongings; (I) exemption 
of consular and other fees; (5) free transportation to the colony when 
engaged by the Government. 

Grants.—Each immigrant, within prescribed ages, is entitled to from 
2 to 6 hectares of public land, provided they cultivate one-third of the 
area within four years. 

Immigrants are governed by the alien law, but may be naturalized. 

Obligations.—(1) The engagement of agriculturists or laborers does 
not exceed four years; (2) wages are paid weekly in cash; (3) living 
and dwelling expenses are granted to each family during the first } T ear; 
(I) one hectare of land is granted free to each family, provided they 
cultivate it, the necessary means are advanced to them to construct 
their dwelling house and buy utensils, implements, seeds, domestic 
animals, and live stock, and the sums advanced are to be reimbursed 
in the second, third, and fourth years without interest; (5) immigrants 
engage to work in the estates of the contractors four days a week dur¬ 
ing harvest time and half of the week during the rest of the year; 
(6) they can not work for another contractor without permission. 

Purchase of lands.—Immigrants who purchase public lands within 
two years of their arrival shall not be bound to pay for them until 
four years later, and then the title deed is issued in their favor. 

Colonization.—Settlements may be established either in public or in 
private lands or on lands purchased from private parties by the National 
Government or established by the latter on public lands. Half of the 

491 


492 


VENEZUELA. 


land granted to colonization companies must be distributed by the 
latter among the colonists. 

Colonies.—The two colonies existing in Venezuela were established 
in 1874, with the object of encouraging immigration. The lands are 
fertile and the climate very healthful. The colonies are: 

Bolivar Colony is situated in the Sucre district of the State of 
Bermudez, 22 square kilometers in extent, about 48 kilometers from 
Caracas and 8 kilometers from Guatire. The principal town is Araira. 
The territory is irrigated by several streams and the Araira River. 
The main products of the colony are coffee, produce, and starch. 

Independencia Colony is situated in the Altagracia district of the 
old State of Miranda. Its area is 555 square kilometers, its altitude 
1,645 meters above the level of the sea, and it is about 112 kilometers 
distant from Caracas. The lands are mountainous and excellent for 
agricultural purposes, the main products being coffee, sugar cane, jmcca, 
and cacao. There are extensive forests where woods for building pur¬ 
poses are most abundant. The territory is irrigated by two rivers 
and five creeks, which form the Taguaza River, navigable for canoes 
as far as the Tuy, opposite Araguita, thence by steamboats to the sea. 
Taguacita is the principal town in the colony. 

IMMIGRATION LAW. 

[Full text of law.] 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Chapter I.—Immigration. 

Title I.— Immigration in general , and the different classes and con¬ 
ditions of immigrants. 

Article 1 . The immigration of foreigners shall be effected and 
regulated in the country according to the provisions of the present 
law. 

Art. 2. The National Government and the government of each 
State, according to article 146 of the constitution, shall promote and 
facilitate the immigration into the Republic of such foreigners as may 
be capable of engaging in agricultural pursuits, in cattle raising, in 
any art, trade, or domestic service. 

Art. 3. Persons of the West Indies shall not be admitted as immi¬ 
grants, nor anyone, of whatever country, older than sixty j^ears, 
unless he has a family coming with him to settle or already settled 
in the Republic. 

Art. 4. Persons lacking the required conditions of health and moral¬ 
ity shall also be disqualified to be immigrants. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



LA QUAIRA AND CARACAS RAILWAY, FREIGHT TRAIN (BOQUERON). 

This curve is over 3,000 feet above sea level. (Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 






























IMMIGRATION LAW. 


493 


Art. 5. The governments of the States, before carrying into effect 
the provisions they may make in favor of immigration, shall com¬ 
municate them to the National Government in compliance with art. 2 
of the present law. 

Art. 6 . Any foreigner shall be considered for the purposes of the 
present law to be an immigrant if he has left his country to come and 
settle in Venezuela and has had his passage paid by the government 
from the port of embarkation abroad to that of arrival in the country. 

§ Any foreigner who has not accepted payment of his passage by the 
government, but who goes before the immigration agent, or, if there 
be none, before the consul of Venezuela at the place where he resides, 
and declares before sailing for Venezuela that he is willing to accept 
all the beneiits that the present law grants to immigrants, and to 
compty with all the conditions which it imposes upon them, shall be 
also considered an immigrant. 

Art. 7. Immigrants shall be divided into classes as follows: 

1. Immigrants without contract, coming in search of some occupation 
in the country. 

2. Immigrants coming under contracts entered into between them 
and the government of some one of the States. 

3. Immigrants coming under contracts entered into between them 
and private individuals, associations, or companies not specially 
engaged in colonization. 

4. Immigrants under contract to work in colonies belonging to pri¬ 
vate persons on vacant public lands. 

5. Immigrants under contract to work in colonies belonging to pri¬ 
vate persons on their own private lands. 

6. Immigrants under contract to work in colonies under the direct 
management of the Government. 

This sixth class shall be subdivided as follows: 

(1) Immigrants under contract to work in colonies established in 
vacant public lands. 

(2) Immigrants under contract to work in colonies established in 
lands purchased by the Government from private parties. 

Art. 8. The Government shall take care, as far as circumstances 
permit, that a reasonable proportion, both in regard to sex and 
nationality, be kept among the immigrants, thus avoiding as far as 
practicable an undue excess in the numbers of either sex or any one 
nationality. 

Title II .—Central board of immigration. 

Art. 9. A board is hereby created, consisting of six members, two 
of whom must be selected from persons engaged in agriculture. Two 
others must be merchants residing in the capital of the Republic. 
The manner of appointment, as well as the regulation of the powers 


494 


VENEZUELA. 


and duties of this board, shall be properly provided for by an Exec¬ 
utive decree. 

Art. 10. The board thus created shall be known by the name of 
u central board of immigration.” As soon as organized it shall have 
power to establish throughout the Republic such subordinate boards 
as may be thought necessary, their respective members being selected 
by it from among the most competent and respectable citizens of each 
locality. 

Title III.— Privileges , assistance , and guarantees granted to immi¬ 
grants by the Government. 

Art. 11. For the purpose of promoting immigration in the proper 
way, the Government shall grant all immigrants voluntarily coming 
to the country the following assistance, privileges, and guarantees, 
to wit: 

1. The payment of their passage, both b} r sea and b}^ land, from the 
place of embarkation to any of the main immigrant depots. 

§ (1) The National Government may also, if it chooses, pay the pas¬ 
sage of the immigrant from the place of his residence to the place of 
embarkation. 

2. Payment of landing expenses, and board and lodging of the 
immigrants for thirty days subsequent to their arrival. 

3. Admission free of duty of all their wearing apparel, domestic 
utensils, seeds, useful animals, machinery, tools, and instruments of 
their calling. 

4. Exemption from paj^ment of any fee, consular or other, for the 
passport given them, and in which the circumstance that the bearer is 
an immigrant must be stated. 

§ (2) Immigrants belonging to the sixth class above described shall 
be taken, at the Government’s expense, to the colony for which they 
have been engaged. 

Art. 12. The Executive Power shall set apart for the immigrants 
above 10 years of age of the first, second, and third classes, and of 
the first subdivision of the sixth class, a number of lots of vacant public 
lands sufficient to give each one not less than 2 hectares (5 acres) nor 
more than 6 hectares (14 acres), according to the fertility of the soil, 
its healthfulness, and its distance from the centers of population. 
But the grant of these lots shall be made dependent on the condition 
that at least the third part of their area be put under cultivation within 
four years, counted from the day in which actual possession of the 
land is given. Upon the fulfillment of this condition the Government 
will make a final concession of the land in fee simple to the immigrant. 

§ (1) The National Executive shall be subject, in regard to the lands 
referred to in this article, to the same restrictions as are established 
in section first of article 27. 


IMMIGRATION LAW. 


495 


§ (2) The lands referred to in this article shall be subject to the con¬ 
ditions established in article 30, except in relation to the kind of 
cultivation. 

§ (3) Actual possession of the lands referred to in this article shall 
not be given to the immigrants of the second and third classes until 
after the obligations of their contracts are duly fulfilled. 

Art. 13. In order to save time and expense to the interested parties, 
the National Government shall waive all the steps and requisites not 
indispensable to make the title perfect in the following cases: 

1. Whenever the tracts of land referred to in article 27 are to be 
set aside or allotted, or finally conveyed in fee simple to colonization 
companies. 

2. Whenever the conveyances referred to in section first of article 
29 are to be made and executed. 

3. Whenever the tracts of land referred to in article 12 are to be 
set apart or allotted, or finally conveyed in fee simple to individual 
immigrants. 

4. Whenever the tracts of land referred to in article 33 are to be 
purchased from private persons, and whenever a portion of the same 
tracts of land is to be sold to an immigrant under the same article. 

5. Whenever the lots referred to in article 34 are to be sold to pre- 
emptor colonists, or whenever any of the second lots referred to in 
the same article is to be alienated. 

6. Whenever the title of ownership of the vacant public lands pur¬ 
chased by an immigrant, under art. 25, is to be executed. 

Art. 14. Immigrants shall enjoy in the Republic all the rights 
granted by law to aliens; and if they choose to be naturalized they 
shall be exempted from military service during the whole of their 
lives, except only in case of foreign war. 

Title IV .—Duties of immigrants. 

Art. 15. In addition to the duties incumbent upon all foreigners 
residing in Venezuela, immigrants shall be bound to fulfill the obliga¬ 
tions comprised in the contracts according to which the}^ have come 
to the country. 

Art. 16. The contracts of the immigrants shall be made according 
to the following conditions: 

1. The engagement of agriculturists or laborers shall not exceed four 
years, and one year for artisans, employees, workmen, and servants. 

2. The price that may be established for the daily work of agricul¬ 
turists shall be paid weekly in cash and not in vouchers or other 
effects, declaring whether the living expenses are included. 

3. Each family shall be given free lodging during the first }^ear. 

4. One hectare of agricultural land shall be granted without expense 
to each family with the expressed condition that it be cultivated. To 


496 


VENEZUELA. 


this effect the contractors shall advance to them the necessary means 
to construct their dwelling house, and buy utensils, implements, seeds, 
domestic animals, and live stock. Immigrants shall pay the sums 
advanced in the second, third, and fourth years, in equal weekly 
payments without any interest. 

5. Families that have been engaged oblige themselves to work in the 
estates of the contractors four days in each week at least during the 
harvest period and the rest of the year half of the week. 

6. No engaged immigrant shall work in another estate without per¬ 
mission from his contractor. 

§. From each contract three copies shall be made, one for the 
representative or father of the family engaged, another for the con¬ 
tractor, and the third for the files of the central board of immigra¬ 
tion, and the latter shall issue all the measures that may be deemed 
necessary in order to insure the strict compliance to all the clauses of 
the contract. 

Title Y.— Formalities to be observed by companies or individuals wish¬ 
ing to bring immigrants and the manner of bringing them . 

Art. 17. All companies and individuals proposing to bring immi¬ 
grants into the Republic shall file an application before the National 
Executive, asking for the proper authority to do so; and the said 
authority shall be granted to them, through the proper department, 
on condition that the} r fulfill all the requisites provided in the present 
decree, and in all other rules and regulations which may be in force at 
the time when the authority is granted. 

Art. 18. Before granting such authority and before entering into 
any immigration or colonization contracts with a private individual or 
with a company the head of the said department shall ask the opinion 
of the central board of immigration. If the report be unfavorable 
the head of the department shall demand from the applicants such 
guarantees as may be required to protect the interests of the treasury 
or of the country, and if such be not given the application shall be 
denied. 

Art. 19. Private individuals or companies proposing to bring immi¬ 
grants to Venezuela may emplo}^ for that purpose the kind of vessels 
or the class of passage they may prefer, but the Government shall be 
responsible only for the amount of the fare agreed upon between it 
and the applicant. 

Title VI. —Manner of making contracts with immigrants. 

Art. 20. Private individuals or companies having permission to 
bring immigrants into the Republic, and desiring to enter into con¬ 
tracts with said immigrants, shall be allowed to do so directly and in 


IMMIGRATION LAW. 


497 


the usual way, by themselves or through competent attorneys or rep¬ 
resentatives, subject, however, to the restrictions established in article 
22 as to the duration of said contracts. Said contracts may be also 
made and entered into through the respective information agents, 
under the rules provided in articles 21 and 22 of the present decree. 

Art. 21. Private individuals or companies wishing to make their 
contracts through the respective information agents shall set forth in 
their applications the number, class, and nationality of the persons 
they wish to bring to the country, their sex and age, their trades or 
occupations, the number of hours they will be required to work, the 
wages to be paid them, the kind of lodging to be given them, the 
extent of the tract of land to be given them for cultivation, and all 
other particulars which may be desired. As far as consistent with 
their official character, it shall be the duty of the State Governments, 
when desiring immigration, to give notice to the National Government 
of all the facts and circumstances just enumerated, and to make all 
other explanations necessary. 

Art. 22. The applications referred to in the preceding article shall 
be referred by the National Executive for the proper report to the • 
respective information agents abroad; and when the terms stated in 
the same are accepted by the immigrants a bilateral contract shall be 
understood to have been made and entered into* between them and the 
applicants. This contract shall be executed before the respective 
consuls and shall be binding upon the parties thereto. These contracts 
shall last for four }^ears, but this time may be extended at the will of 
the parties. No stipulation contrary to the constitution and laws of 
the Republic or to any international treaty shall be allowed in these 
contracts. 

Art. 23. Private individuals or companies desiring to make these 
contracts directly, either by themselves or through attorneys, shall set 
forth in their applications the number of immigrants they wish to 
bring to the country, their nationality, sex, trade, or occupation, and 
their approximate age. 

Title VII .—Purchase of public lands . 

Art. 24. Such immigrants as may purchase public lands during the 
first two years of their residence in the Republic shall not be bound 
to pay the price thereof until after the expiration of four years, 
counted from the day in which they enter into actual possession of the 
purchased land; but they will not be allowed to sell oi tiansfei said 
land during this period. 

Art. 25. The patent or title of ownership shall not be delivered to 
the immigrant until after he has paid up the stipulated pi ice and gi \ en 
sufficient*proof both of his residence in the tract of land referred to 
and of his having put the same under cultivation. 

4 a—04-32 



498 


VENEZUELA. 


Chapter II.—Colonization. 

Title I .—Colonization in public lands by private individuals or 

companies . 

Art. 26. The Executive Power shall grant all private individuals or 
companies which may desire to establish colonies all such tracts of 
public lands as they may request, provided they bind themselves to 
cultivate said lands, within the period of four years counted from the 
day of possession, with immigrants introduced through the National 
Government. 

§ First. The Executive shall have no power to grant for these pur¬ 
poses any tract of land already occupied or cultivated by Venezuelans 
who are willing to purchase it, or any tract of land which has been 
legally denounced by private parties, or those the preservation of 
which ma}^ be deemed to be desirable for the national interests. 

§ Second. The grant of the lands referred to in this article shall be 
made by the Executive Power in proportion to the number of immi¬ 
grants over ten years of age; but the grant shall never exceed ten 
hectares (24 acres) nor be less than two for each immigrant, and in all 
cases it shall be determined in accordance with the degree of fertility^ 
and salubritv of said- lands and their distance from the center of 
population. 

§ Third. The Executive Power shall cause these lands to be surveyed 
b}- a surveyor appointed by it for this purpose. 

Art. 27. The Executive Power shall cause the colonization compa¬ 
nies to stipulate in their contracts for colonization in public lands that 
half of the lands granted them for this purpose shall be distributed 
among the colonists and conveyed to them in fee simple in the propor¬ 
tions and conditions of article 12 and in conformity with the foregoing 
article. 

Art. 28. If, after the expiration of the four years mentioned in the 
preceding articles, it be proved to the satisfaction of the Executive 
Power, by the colonization company, that one-third at least of the 
lands granted has been brought under cultivation, by the establish¬ 
ment of regular farms or estates therein, and that this has been done 
chiefly with immigrants introduced by the said company, then and in 
that case the Executive Power shall issue and deliver to the latter the 
patent or title of ownership in fee simple of the lands thus granted. 

§ 1. The colonization compan}^ shall then convey in fee simple to the 
colonists the lands which belong to them, according to art. 27. 

Art. 29. Those lands which at the expiration of the four years 
above referred to are not under cultivation in the proportion and in 
the manner mentioned in the preceding article shall return to the 
possession of the Republic as public lands. 


IMMIGRATION LAW. 


499 


Title II. — Colonization in private land by companies or private 

persons. 

Art. 30. In order that an aggregation of immigrants on a tract of 
land belonging to private parties may be considered a colony, the fol¬ 
lowing shall be required: 

1. That the owner of the land shall have previously declared his 
intention to found the said colony, and asked for the authority to do 
so from the proper Executive Department. 

§ The application for this authority shall set forth particularly all 
the conditions under which the applicant intends to found his col¬ 
ony, and especial ly the number of persons of which it is to consist. 
The Department shall refer this application for the proper report to 
the Central Board of Immigration, which may ask for further infor¬ 
mation if in its judgment the application does not contain all the 
explanations necessary. 

2. That the colony shall consist of at least two hundred immigrants 
brought into the country with the expressed purpose to form it. 

3. That the colony shall contain at least fifty dwelling houses, and 
that subsequent to the foundation of the colony 200 hectares of the 
land thereof shall have been brought under cultivation. 

4. That the majority of the immigrants who form the colony shall 
have resided within its limits for at least four consecutive years. 

Art. 31. Upon the fulfilment of the requisites set forth in the preced¬ 
ing article each one of the immigrants who form the colony shall be 
entitled, as soon as his own contract with the owner of the land is duly 
complied with, to receive from the National Treasury the sum of $19.30, 
which shall be paid to him in lieu and in compensation for the public 
lands which the nation has not given to him. And the owner of the land 
wherein the colony has been founded shall also be entitled to receive 
from the Government, in remuneration of his efforts, $11.58 for each 
immigrant over ten years of age, a sum that shall be given him as 
remuneration for his services. 

§ Failure on the part of the owner to comply with the requisites 
provided for in the preceding article shall, if in the opinion of the cen¬ 
tral board of immigration it depends upon his will, render him liable 
to the immigrants for the damages they may have sustained; but if the 
failure depends upon the immigrants themselves, then they shall be 
bound to indemnify the owner. 

The amount of the indemnities herein provided for shall never exceed 
$19.30 when paid by the owner to the immigrant and $11.58 when paid 
by the immigrant to the owner. 

Title III.— Colonization in lands purchased by the National Govern¬ 
ment from private parties. 

Art. 32. The Government shall have power to purchase lands from 
private parties for colonization purposes only in case they are uncul- 


500 


VENEZUELA. 


tivated. The lands thus purchased shall he divided, as their topograph¬ 
ical conditions permit, into equal portions, not exceeding 4 hectares 
each, and laid out, as far as practicable, in squares. The Govern¬ 
ment shall sell these lots, that is to say, reserving or leaving one 
lot unsold between two sold. The unreserved lots shall be offered 
for sale on easy terms, according to their special circumstances, to the 
first immigrants, founders of the colon}^, and the reserved ones shall be 
disposed of afterwards, either by sale at public auction or by grant or 
contract; but this shall not be done until the value of the reserved lands 
has increased sufficiently to compensate for the losses sustained in the 
sale of the others. 

§ First. On equal terms, preference shall be given for the acquisi¬ 
tion of the reserved lots to the owners of the ones not reserved. 

§ Second. All owners are bound to give each other the right of way 
in the manner which may be least injurious to them. 

§ Third. The Government shall distribute the water as equitably as 
possible among the different lots into which the ground is divided. 

Art. 33. If the Government desires to establish a town in an agri¬ 
cultural colony, such portion of the lands as may be sufficient for a 
public square shall be reserved. The principal public buildings shall 
be erected facing the said square. The balance of the ground set apart 
for the town shall be divided into squares of one hundred meters on 
each side, separated from each other by streets twelve meters wide. 
Each square shall also be subdivided into lots of greater or less size, 
facing the street. These shall be sold alternately, as provided for in 
the foregoingarticles for the agricultural lots, but no preference what¬ 
ever shall be given for the acquisition of the reserved lots to the pur¬ 
chaser of those not reserved. 

Art. 34. When the colony has been founded by the National Govern¬ 
ment on lands purchased to that effect from private parties, the colo¬ 
nists shall have the right to elect their own police authorities, accord¬ 
ing to article 27. 

Art. 35. In no case shall the Government have power to compel the 
lawful owner of a tract of land to cede it or sell it, either whollv or in 

' V 

part, for the establishment of colonies, nor to force the said owner to 
sell separately from the ground any particular building, water course, 
or spring belonging to them. 

Title IV. — Colonization made by the National Government on public 

lands. 

Art. 36. The purpose of the Government being to promote the foun¬ 
dation of colonies under its direct control on public lands, sections of 
the said lands, measuring at least 3,000 hectares, shall be set apart by 
the National Executive; and there shall be located, according to the 
necessities of the case, the tract to be given to each immigrant of the 


IMMIGRATION LAW. 


501 


first and third categories and of the first subdivision of the sixth cate¬ 
gory. The National Executive shall cause these tracts to be pre¬ 
viously surveyed and classified, in order to locate them as directed. 

§ As soon as the colony counts at least five hundred foreign settlers 
they shall have the right to elect their own police. The Government 
shall also assist them, as far as permitted by the circumstances of the 
national treasury, in opening roads which may render easier or safer 
communication between those localities and the nearest highway or 
railroad extension. Said road shall be six meters wide, with a grade 
not exceeding six per cent. 


Chapter III.—Sole title. 

General provisions. 

Art. 37. The provisions made and enacted in this decree shall be 
made known to each immigrant before he leaves his country, and it 
shall be the duty of the respective agent or consul foi* Venezuela to 
impart to him this information, and to make a record of the fact on a 
registry to be kept for this purpose. 

Art. 38. The National Executive has power to make such rules as 
may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of the present 
decree. 

Art. 39. A suitable amount shall be included in the general appro¬ 
priation bill of each year sufficient to provide for this matter and to 
promote immigration and colonization in Venezuela. 

Art. 40. The executive decree of January 7, 1893, and the former 
law on this subject are hereby repealed. 

Given and signed in the Federal legislative palace of Caracas on 
August 14,1894—84th year of independence and 36th of the Federation. 

The president of the Senate, P. Febres Cordero. The president 
of the Chamber of Deputies, J. Francisco Castillo. The secretary 
of the Senate, Francisco Pimentel. The secretary of the Chamber of 
Deputies, Carlos Le6n. 

Federal palace of Caracas, August 26, 1894—84th year of the inde¬ 
pendence and 36th of the Federation. Be it executed. Joaquin 
Crespo. Countersigned. A. Loutowski, Minister of Fomento. 


IISTDEX to CHAPTER XII. 


Page. 


Principal provisions of the immigration law. 491 

Classification of immigrants. 491 

Inducements. 491 

Grants. 491 

Obligations. 491 

Purchase of lands. 491 

Colonization. 491 

Colonies. 492 

Bolivar Colony. 492 

Independence Colony. 492 

Immigration law. 492 

Immigration in general. 492 

Different classes and conditions of immigrants. 492 

Central board of immigration. 493 

Privileges, assistance, and guarantees granted to immigrants. 494 

Duties of immigrants. 495 

Formalities to be observed. 496 

Manner of making contracts with immigrants. 496 

Purchase of public lands. 497 

Colonization: 

In public lands by private individuals or companies. 498 

In private lands by companies or private persons. 499 

On lands purchased by the National Government from private 

parties. 499 

Made by the National Government on public lands. 500 

General provisions. 501 

502 
































CHAPTER XHT. 

INSTRUCTION—LAWS ON EDUCATION, REGULATIONS, COLLEGE 

AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS. 

INSTRUCTION. 

Education.—Gratuitous and compulsory instruction was established 
in Venezuela b} T an Executive decree on June 27, 1870. 

Education in Venezuela is ruled by the code of public instruction 
promulgated on April 12, 1904, and is classed under the denomina¬ 
tions public and private instruction. 

Private tuition.—Private instruction is acquired at home or in insti¬ 
tutions established for the purpose. 

Public instruction. —Public instruction is supported by the nation, 
the States of the Union, and the municipalities, the following- revenues 
being- set aside for the support of public instruction, viz: 

The proceeds from the school; postage stamps, postal cards, and 
letters deposited in the treasury of public instruction; the interests 
allotted to itssservice out of the national consolidated debt; the lines 
imposed upon the infractors of the provisions of the law in force 
relating to public instruction; the taxes levied by law on inheritances; 
the duties on cut and manufactured tobacco imported into the coun¬ 
try, and the proceeds of the stamps affixed in each package of ciga¬ 
rettes sold or offered for sale. 

Organization. —Public instruction was reorganized by an Executive 
decree of July 4, 1903, according to the provisions of which decree 
public instruction consists of the following- eight branches: 

Primary schools, secondary schools, normal schools, national col¬ 
leges, engineering school, universities, academies, polytechnic school. 

In the Federal district 100 public schools are established, and in the 
States of the Union 600. Instruction is imparted in said institutions 
according to the provisions of the aforesaid code of public instruction. 

Primary instruction. —Primary instruction is divided into compul¬ 
sory and voluntary education, both imparted free. Compulsory pri¬ 
mary education is imposed by law on all Venezuelans of either sex, 
and voluntary instruction comprises all the matters taught in national 
institutions of learning which are not considered strictly essential, 
but optional. Religious tuition is classed under voluntary education. 

Primary schools.— Primary instruction is given in boys’ and girls’ 

503 


504 


VENEZUELA. 


first and second grade schools. These establishments must be annexed 
to the normal schools, and the National Executive may create them 
separately and according to the needs of the country. In the schools 
of the first grade religious Catholic education is voluntary for the 
pupils whose parents should so desire; but instruction embracing the 
reading of both manuscript and printed matter, writing, elements of 
arithmetic, metric system, elements of geograph}", history and polit¬ 
ical constitution of the Republic, good manners, habits of cleanliness, 
moral and civic education, and calisthenics, and agronomy in the rural 
district schools, is compulsory. Girls will be taught in the first-grade 
schools, besides the above-mentioned matters, needlework, cutting 
and sewing, dressmaking, and elements of domestic economy. In the 
second-grade schools the following matters are taught: Writing from 
dictation, the Spanish language, practical arithmetic, geography, his¬ 
tory and the political constitution of Venezuela, universal history 
and geography, linear drawing, general principles of physics and 
natural sciences and their application to industry, morals, elements of 
civil common law, and gymnastics. None but those who have passed 
the first-grade schools can enter these institutions, after giving satis¬ 
factory evidence of this fact, either by showing the proper certifi¬ 
cate or by passing an examination. 

Boards of primary instruction.—The boards of primary instruction 
are divided into three classes, as follows: Sectional boards, district 
boards, and parish boards. 

Secondary schools.—Secondary instruction is organized by means of 
Federal colleges, one for boys and one for girls in each school section, 
to be established regardless of the existence of any others; or those 
thqt the National Executive may deem advisable to establish whenever 
and wherever circumstances may demand; and of the normal schools 
which shall be established in the Republic for both sexes. Each Fed¬ 
eral college shall have a primary school annexed. In the Federal 
colleges for boys the following subjects must be taught: Latin, Greek, 
French, English, German, universal history, grammar, rhetoric, 
universal geography, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, 
topography, astronomy, physics, chemistry, elemental philosophy, 
pedagogy, and topographic drawing. In the Federal colleges for girls 
the following must be taught: Morals and manners, elocution, arith¬ 
metic, grammar and composition, universal geography, French, Eng¬ 
lish, history, drawing, music and singing, hygiene, calisthenics, 
domestic economy, sewing, embroidery, cutting and dressmaking, and 
pedagogy. 

Normal schools.—Normal schools are for the instruction of teachers, 
and have a Federal school annexed. The subjects taught in these 
schools are pedagogy, elocution, caligraphy, Spanish, arithmetic, 
geography of Venezuela and universal geography, elements of anatomy, 
hygiene, physiology, civic instruction, gymnastics, music, and draw- 


EDUCATION. 


505 


mg; and in the normal schools for young ladies, besides the above, 
the Froebel system, manual work, domestic economy, and household 
duties. There are two normal schools, one for women at Caracas and 
one for men at Valencia. 

Attendance .—In 1903 the attendance of the women’s school and annex 
was 113 students. 

Superior instruction. —Superior instruction is imparted in the follow¬ 
ing national universities: The Caracas Central University, established 
on August 19, 1725, and in the Universities of Merida (State of Los 
Andes), established in 1810; Valencia (State of Carabobo); Maracaibo 
(State of Zulia); Ciudad Bolivar (State of Bolivar), and Barquisimeto 
(State of Lara). 

Organization of universities.— Universities in Venezuela have the fol¬ 
lowing learned faculties, viz: Faculty of political sciences, faculty of 
medicine, faculty of philosophy and letters, and faculty of pharmacy. 

The school of dentistry and that of veterinary are also established 
and ascribed to the facult}^ of medicine. 

Course of studies. —To obtain the degree of doctor in the first three fac¬ 
ulties it is necessary to follow a course of studies covering six years, and 
to become a doctor of pharmacy the course of study covers two years. 

To become a dentist it is necessary to pass an examination according 
to article 169 of the Code of Public Instruction of Venezuela, be 
approved, have practiced during two years with a titular dentist, be 
submitted to practical examination on medical dentistry before a board 
of three dentists appointed for that purpose, and comply with the 
provisions of article 177 of said Code and of Chapter ATI of the law 
of December 7, 1897 . a 

To become a veterinary surgeon it is necessary to comply with the 
provisions of articles 170, 173, and 177 of the aforesaid code and of 
Chapter VII of the law of December 7, 1897 . a 

Academies. —There are two academies in Venezuela, namely, the 
Academy of the Spanish Language and the National History Academy. 

Academy of the Spanish Language. —This academy is a correspondent 
of the Spanish Royal Academy, and since its establishment in 1881 has 
never ceased to send to the latter new additions and amendments of 
definitions, proverbs, and etymologies for the dictionary of the Spanish 
language. 

National History Academy.— This body has been indefatigable in its 
research of matters relative to the annals of Venezuelan history. 

Scientific and literary bodies.— Besides the medical, engineering, and 
law colleges and council of physicians, which are ruled by their own 
special regulations, there exist six collegiate bodies, the principal 
object of which is to further the interests of science and letters, namely, 
Academy of the Spanish Language, National History Academy, Mathe¬ 
matic and Physic Science Academy, Biologic and Medical Science 

a The new Code of Public Instruction was promulgated on April 12, 1904. 









506 


VENEZUELA. 


Academy, Social and Law Science Academy, and Caracas Atheneum, 
according to the provisions of articles 257 to 304 of the Code of Public 
Instruction." 

Engineering school.—This school is established according to articles 
180 to 183 of the Code of Public Instruction. From it graduate civil, 
military, and agricultural engineers and architects. The course is for 
four years." 

Mining school.—According to article 194 of the Code of Public 
Instruction, a school for mining agencies is established, and to be 
admitted to the school as student it is necessary to have successfully 
passed the examination for, and received the diploma of, land surveyor, 
as provided by articles 195 to 197 of the said code." 

Agricultural school.—This is the only superior school of agriculture 
in Venezuela. It has a well-chosen personnel, and a programme of 
studies selected from those of the best American and European insti¬ 
tutes. The agricultural propaganda is carried out b} r means of central 
boards of agriculture established at the capitals of the States. It 
possesses a library on agriculture, an agricultural museum with a 
permanent exhibit of industrial and natural products, and a museum of 
natural history and of agricultural machines and instruments. An 
experimental station is to be added to the agricultural school and a 
seticulture school is annexed to it, where everything relative to the 
raising of silkworms is studied in a practical manner. 

Attendance .—In 1903, 20 students followed the regular course. 

Pasteur Institute.—This institute, established in 1896 especially for 
scientific research, is supported by the Government and has rendered 
efficient service. 

Seminary.—On September 28, 1900, the Caracas Seminary was estab¬ 
lished. The faculty of ecclesiastical science carries on there it studies 
of theology and canonical jurisprudence according to the provisions 
of the Code of Public Instruction. It is a Catholic institution and has 
a superior course of studies, a three years’ philosophical course, and a 
preparatory course. 

Attendance .—In 1903, 10 students followed the superior course, 5 
the second course, and 13 the preparatory course. 

Fine arts school.—The school of line arts teaches drawing and paint¬ 
ing (30 students), sculpture (16), artistic anatomy (19), architecture (16), 
music (all the students), and oratory (25) in a course of three to four 
years. It has a department for men and one for women. 

Polytechnic school.—There is a polytechnic school at Caracas in which 
the respective matters ascribed to it are studied. The course is divided 
into three sections, the two first being obligatory and third optional. 

Attendance .—In 1903 the school was attended by 85 students, of 

ft The new Code of Public Instruction was promulgated on April 12, 1904. 





EDUCATION. 


507 


which 11 belong to the third course, 17 to the first, 41 to the prepara¬ 
tory school, and 16 to the annex. 

Art and trades schools.—There shall exist one art and trades school 
in the Federal district and one in each of the capitals of the States. 

The course of studies covers three years and instruction is imparted 
in four different workshops, namely, the masonry, the carpentry, the 
tailoring, and the shoemaking workshop. 

Libraries.—There is a library at Caracas containing over 50,000 vol¬ 
umes and the Government is empowered to establish libraries wherever 
there are universities or Federal colleges. There are in the country 
other important libraries, such as that of Valencia, the capital of the 
Carabobo State, the one which belongs to College of Maracaibo, that 
of the Miranda State, and the one established in the capital of the 
Falcon State. Each one of these libraries possesses more than 2,000 
volumes. 

National museum.—The national museum at Caracas is divided into 
five sections, namely, national history, natural history and archaeology, 
picture gallery, sculpture gallery, and architecture gallery. 

Astronomical observatory.—This institute is ascribed to the school of 
engineers. 

National colleges, 1903.—The following table shows the number of 
colleges, where located, the number of professors, and attendance in 
1903, compiled from the report of the department of public instruc¬ 
tion of Venezuela for 1904. 


National college. 

City. 

State. 

Number 
of pro¬ 
fessors. 

Attend¬ 

ance. 

Girls. - . 

Caracas. 

Federal District. 

7 

210 

Rnvs . 

La Victoria. 

Aragua. 

4 

40 

Girls . 

.do. 

.do. 

2 

35 

Rnvs 

San Fernando. 

Apure. 

4 


Girls 

.do. 

.....do. 

2 

23 

T?ovs 

Ciudad Bolivar. 

Bolivar. 

3 


Girls 

.do. 

.do. 

2 

43 

Rrivs . 

Barcelona. 

Barcelona. 

4 

55 

Girls 

.do. 

.do. 

2 

35 

Do 

Valencia. 

Carabobo . 

14 

162 

Rovs 

Coro. 

Falcon. 

4 



.do. 

.do. 

2 

42 

Povs 

Calabozo. 

Gudrico. 

2 

15 

Ciirlq 

.do. 

.do. 

4 

40 


Barquisimeto. 

Lara. 

4 

14 


_do. 

.do. 

2 

38 

Do 

Merida. 

Mdrida. 

2 

53 


Petare. 

Miranda. 

4 

45 


.. .do. 

.do. 

4 

56 


Maturin. 

Maturin. 

4 

25 

i>uy a. -------. 

. .do. 


2 

30 


Cumand. 

Sucre . 

4 

47 


. .do. 

.do. 

4 

70 


Asuncion. 

Nueva Esparta. 

4 


Girls 

. .do. 

.do. 

3 

35 


Guanare. 

Portuguesa. 

4 

21 

JJOj ».-. 

do. 


4 

30 


San CristObal. 

Tdchira. 

4 

35 

DUjS. 



2 

78 


Trujillo. 

Trujillo. 

4 

23 

xjuy a.. 

Girls 

do. 


2 

35 


San Felipe. 

Yaracuy ...?. 

4 

16 

-ouy a..-. 

do. 


4 

33 


Bfl.rina.s . 

Zamora. 

4 

10 

•ouya... 

do . 

.do. 

4 


Da 

Marn.eaibo. 

Zulia. 

2 

43 

































































































































508 


VENEZUELA 


Municipal colleges and schools, 1903.—The following table, compiled 
from the report of the governor of the Federal District (1904), shows 
the number of colleges and schools of the Libertador Department of 
the Federal District during 1903: 


Parishes. 


Colleges. 


San Pablo. 

Catedral . 

Do. 

Altagracia. 

Do. 

Santa Teresa. 

Do. 

Santa Rosalia. 

Do. 

Santa Rosalia (dressmaking) 

Candelaria. 

Do. 

San Juan. 

Do. 

La Pastora. 

Do.. 

San Jos6. 

Primary (jail). 

Arts and trades (jail).. 

El Valle.. 

Antimano.. 

Do.. 

La Vega. 

Do. 

El Recreo. 

Macarao. 

Do. 


Schools. 

Attendance. 

Boys. 

Girls. 


368 


1 

63 


1 

45 

1 

40 

1 

44 

1 

50 

1 

40 

1 

50 

1 

42 

1 


25 

1 

43 

1 

31 

1 

60 

1 


1 

63 


1 

42 

1 


43 

1 

26 

1 

41 


1 

52 


1 

47 


1 

26 

1 

38 

1 

37 

1 

44 

1 

29 


1 

30 




The following table, compiled for the aforesaid report, shows the 
number of colleges and schools of the Vargas Department of the 
Federal District in 1903: 


Parishes. 

Colleges. 

Schools. 

Attendance. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

La Guaira. 

Miranda. 



57 

46 

Do. 

Sanz. 



Do. 

Vargas. 


60 

Do. 

Providencia. 



Do. 


Sucre. 


37 

Do. 


Cardonal. 

29 

26 

Maiquetia. 


1. 


Do. 


1. 

36 

0 

29 
.5 

30 

Do. 


Cerro de Ins Claphns 

at 

Macuto. 


1. 

Do. 


El Cojo 

a a 

Caraballeda. 


1. 

Naiguatd.'. 


1. 

n 0 

Caruao. 


1. 

«20 





a Boys and girls. 



















































































































INDEX TO CHAPTER XIII. 


Page. 

Instruction. 503 

Education. 503 

Private tuition. 503 

Public instruction. 503 

Organization. 503 

Primary instruction. 503 

Primary schools.'.. 503 

Boards of primary instruction._. 504 

Secondary schools. 504 

Normal schools. 504 

Superior instruction. 505 

Organization of universities. 505 

Course of studies. 505 

Academies. 505 

Academy of the Spanish language. 505 

National history academy. 505 

Scientific and literary bodies. 505 

Engineering school. 506 

Mining school. 506 

Agricultural school. 506 

Pasteur Institute. 506 

Seminary. 506 

Fine arts school. 506 

Polytechnic school. 506 

Arts and trades school. 507 

Libraries. 507 

National Museum. 507 

Astronomical observatory. 507 

National colleges 1903 (table). 507 

Municipal colleges and schools, Libertador Department (table). 508 

Number of colleges and schools, Vargas Department (table). 508 


509 







































CHAPTER XIV. 


PATENT, TRADE-MARK, AND COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS—ARMY 

AND NAVY METRIC SYSTEM —WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND 
VALUES. 

PRINCIPAL PATENT REGULATIONS. 

Promulgation of law.—The patent law now in force was approved on 
May 25, 1882, and proclaimed by the President of the Republic on 
June 2, 1882, repealing the previous law of May 25, 1878. 

Requirements of law.—Pursuant to the said law, inventions or discov¬ 
eries of a new and useful art, machine, manufacture, or material com¬ 
position, or any new and useful improvement in the same, provided 
that the invention, discovery, or improvement shall not have been 
previously known and used by others or patented or described in any 
publication printed in the Republic or elsewhere, and which shall not 
have been in use and on sale to the public for more than two years 
prior to the application for the patent, may be patented in Venezuela. 

Applications for patents.—Applications for patents are addressed to 
the executive power, through the minister of fomento, declaring 
under oath that the applicant is in fact the inventor or discoverer of 
the art, machine, manufacture, composition, or improvement sought 
to be patented. 

The fomento department on January 31, 1902, published the fol¬ 
lowing resolution in regard to the requirements of applicants for 
patents: 

“Whereas in view of the frequency with which applications for 
patents of invention or improvements referred to in article 1 of the 
patent laws are filed with the Federal Executive without clearly speci¬ 
fying the art, machine, manufacture, or composition of the material 
that has been improved, and inasmuch as this causes loss of time and 
trouble to this office as well as to the interested parties, the Federal 
Executive decrees that every applicant for a patent of invention or 
improvement shall state in the application, description, drawings, or 
samples sent to this Department what is the art, machine, manufacture, 
or composition of materials which has been improved. 

Term of issue.—Patents are issued for the term of five, ten, or fifteen 
years, and are forfeited in six months, one, or two years after issu¬ 
ance if during that time the discovery is not put into practice. 

511 


512 


VENEZUELA. 


The letters patent set forth the duration of the same and the time of 
forfeiture. The law provides the terms in which the patent or con¬ 
cession is to be couched. 

Patent tax.—The applications for patents must be accompanied by a 
voucher showing that the inventor has paid the tax corresponding to 
one-half the number of years for which the patent is applied for. This 
tax is 80 bolivars per annum for an invention or discovery and 60 
bolivars per annum for improvements. Should no patent be issued 
the applicant loses the amount paid in, but should the patent be issued 
the amount is credited to the proper number of years. 

Exemption from tax.—The Federal Executive may exempt from the 
established tax inventors of industrial discoveries or inventions which 
in its judgment may merit such protection. 

Foreign patents.—Foreign letters patent are not an obstacle to obtain¬ 
ing the same in Venezuela unless they have been already issued to 
another person for the same invention or improvement. With regard 
to letters patent issued in other countries those issued in Venezuela 
can not exceed the unexpired time limit of the former. 

Deposit of models.—Models, descriptions, and drawings accompany¬ 
ing applications for patents must remain deposited in the fomento 
department. 


PATENT LAW. 

[Full text of law.] 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Article 1 . Any person who invents or discovers any new and use¬ 
ful art, machine, manufacture, or composition of substances, or some 
new and usefui improvement of the aforesaid objects, can obtain a 
patent of invention after paying the tax established by this law, in 
accordance with its stipulations, provided the invention, discovery, 
or improvment be not already known and used by other persons in 
this country, nor patented and described in printed publication in the 
Republic or abroad, or been used by the public and sold for more than 
two 3 r ears before the date of the application, unless it can be proved 
that it had been abandoned. 

Art. 2. The patents shall be issued by the Federal Executive, in 
the name of the United States of Venezuela, and countersigned by the 
minister of fomento. 

Art. 3. The Government does not guarantee the exactness, useful¬ 
ness, or priority of the invention or discovery patented. 

Art. 4. Any person wishing to obtain a patent must add to the 
application a description of the invention or discovery, machine, com¬ 
position, or improvement, indicating accurately its nature and object. 
He shall also submit the corresponding drawings or samples. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



BARALT THEATER (INTERIOR), MARACAIBO- 
(Courtesy of the Zulia Government.) 































PATENT LAW. 


513 


Art. 5. Applicants in their petitions for patents must declare, under 
oath, that they are really the inventors or discoverers of the art, 
machine, manufacture, composition, or improvement for which they 
desire a patent. All controversies which may arise through the inac¬ 
curacy of declarations shall be submitted by the interested parties to 
the Federal courts of justice. 

Art. 6 . Patents shall be granted for a term of live, ten, or fifteen 
years, and become extinct six months, one year, or two years after 
they have been granted if during these terms the invention or discov¬ 
ery for which the patent has been granted has not been put into 
practice. 

Sole paragraph .—The patent shall specify the term within which it 
lapses, and the time granted for its duration shall be reckoned from 
the date on which the patent shall have been granted. 

Art. 7. Applications for patents shall be addressed to the Federal 
Executive through the minister of fomento. 

Art. 8 . After having complied with the provisions established in this 
law, a patent shall be issued to the petitioner, which shall empower 
him to put into practice his invention, discovery, or improvement 
within the United States of Venezuela and its territories. This patent 
shall be issued by the Federal Executive through the department of 
fomento, according to the form immediately following the present 
article, and shall contain a short title or description of the invention 
or discovery, setting forth precisely its nature and purpose, and a con¬ 
cession to the patentee, his heirs or assigns, for the exclusive right to 
manufacture, use, or sell the invention or discovery. 

FORM. 

“The President of the Republic, with the affirmative vote of the 
Federal council. 

“Whereas X has applied to the Federal Executive for a patent for 
[here the industry], and having complied with the provisions estab¬ 
lished by the respective law [date of the law]: 

“Therefore, according to article 8 of the aforesaid law, and in 
the name of the United States of Venezuela, I issue unto him the 
present patent for the exclusive right of working the above-described 

industry for a period of - years. The Federal Executive does 

not guarantee the exactness, usefulness, or priority of the discovery 
or invention patented. 

“This patent shall lapse after-, to be reckoned from this 

date, if during this lapse of time the aforesaid industry be not put into 
practice. 

“Signed, scaled, and countersigned in the Federal palace of Caracas, 
etc.” 


4a—04-33 






514 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 9. Patents are subject to a } r earl} T tax of 80 bolivars ($10 United 
States currency) when granted for an invention or discovery and to a 
yearly tax of 60 bolivars ($12) when granted for improved methods. 

Art. 10. The amount of the tax mentioned in the above article shall 
be deposited in the national treasury of public service. Any person 
desiring to obtain a patent from the Federal Executive shall, on 
applying for it according to article 7, attach to his petition a voucher 
proving that he has paid the tax corresponding to half the number of 
years for which the patent is asked. 

In case the patent can not be granted according to the provisions of 
this law, the petitioner shall forfeit the sum deposited as a tax in favor 
of popular instruction; and when the patent is granted to him this sum 
shall be deducted from the aggregate he shall have to pay during the 
term the patent lasts. 

/Soleparagraph .—The Federal Executive can exempt from the tax 
established by article 9 of this law all inventors of discoveries or 
industrial products worthy of this protection in its opinion. 

Art. 11. Whoever has obtained a patent can express the circum¬ 
stance in his advertisements or trade-marks without this fact being 
held as a guaranty from the Government as to the quality of the pro¬ 
duction, or as to the priority of the invention or discovery,, or to hold 
good against the better right of a third party. 

Art. 12. Whoever has obtained a patent in a foreign countiy for an 
invention or discovery can also obtain it in Venezuela, provided 
another person has not already obtained it. 

Sole par agraj)h .—In the latter case the patent will only be g’ranted 
for a lapse of time equal to that lacking for the expiration of the patent 
granted in the other country. 

Art. 13. When the term for which a patent has been granted expires 
the description of the discovery or invention to which it refers shall 
be published in the Official Gazette, and from that date it can be freely 
worked, as also the manufacture or sale of the products of industry 
which was guaranteed by the patent. 

Art. 14. The same publication shall be made when, after granting 
a patent, it becomes extinct before being put into practice, according 
to article 6 of this law, or when it be declared null and void before the 
time due, except in the first case of article 18. 

Art. 15. The descriptions, drawings, and samples attached to peti¬ 
tions for patents shall be deposited in the fomento department. 

Art. 16. The Federal Executive, after receiving an application for 
a patent, shall order its publication in the Official Gazette, and in case 
the patent be granted, it shall only be issued thirty days after its 
publication. 

Art. IT. Inventions, improvements, or new industries which are a 
menace to public health and public security, or against morality or 
previously acquired rights, can not be patented. 


TRADE-MARKS. 


515 


Sole paragraph .—Nor can patents be granted for medicines, compo¬ 
sitions, or drugs of any kind or shape, these being subject to special 
laws and regulations. 

” i 

Art. 18. Besides the cases of article 6, patents granted shall be of 
no value when a decision of the Federal courts declares them as con¬ 
flicting with the rights of a third party, and when the new industry 
patented ceases to be worked consecutively during a whole year, 
except in fortuitous cases or cases of superior force. 

Aiit. 19. Damages against property guaranteed by a patent shall be 
decided by the corresponding codes in the Federal courts of justice. 

Art. 20. The law on this subject promulgated on May 25, 1878, is 
hereby repealed. 

Given at the palace of the Federal legislative council, in Caracas, 
on May 25, 1882, nineteenth } r ear of the law and twenty-fourth of 
federation. 

The president of the senate, J. P. Rojas Paul. The president of 
the chamber of deputies, A. Cova. The secretary of the senate, 
M. Caballero. The secretary of the chamber of deputies, J. 
Nicomedcs Ramirez. 


PRINCIPAL TRADE-MARK REGULATIONS. 

Promulgation of law.—The trade-mark law now in force was promul¬ 
gated on May 18, 1877. 

Requirements of law.—Any person or association residing in the 
Republic, or any corporations created by the national authority, may 
solicit and obtain the protection and guaranty of any legitimate trade¬ 
mark, to the use of which they have the exclusive right, provided they 
comply with the legal requirements. These requirements consist of 
filing with the department of fomento an application in the name 
of the applicant, on stamped paper of the seventh class, setting forth 
his name, residence, and commercial domicile, the kind of articles for 
which the trade-mark is used, a full description of these articles and of 
the trade-mark, with facsimiles of the latter, showing its application 
and method of use, and giving the time the said trade-mark has been 
in use in case it has been previously employed. 

Applications for trade-marks—The application should be signed by 
the interested party or by his legal representative, and should state 
that lie has a right to the use of the trade-mark, and that the latter 
bears no similarity whatever to those previously issued to other parties, 
and that it can not be mistaken for these or occasion deception. 

Registration of trade-marks.—facsimiles, as well as the descriptions 
and exact copies of the trade-marks, must be registered. 

Rejection of applications.—The fomento department will not receive 
applications for trade-marks from any person, association, or corpora¬ 
tion which do not have some feature sufficient to distinguish them from 


516 


VENEZUELA. 


those of the same name when in use by different persons or when 
applied to the same class of object, or which are intended in some way 
to deceive the public. 

Term of issue.—The fomento department, after the legal require¬ 
ments have been complied with and in case no protest is filed, issues a 
certificate on stamped paper of the third class, declaring that the appli¬ 
cant is the owner of the trade-mark registered, with all its specifica¬ 
tions, and this certificate will serve as a title, being duly registered 
and bearing the seal of the department. 

The exclusive right to the use of a trade-mark of articles not pro¬ 
tected by the laws of other countries will remain impaired and in force 
for the term of thirty years, reckoned from the date of registration. 

Renewal of term.—During the six months preceding the expiration 
of this term of thirty } T ears application may be made for a renewal, 
and the term may be extended for a like period by the issuance of a 
new certificate similar to the original instrument. 

Penalties for false representations.—False representations or declara¬ 
tions, as well as any other fraudulent means emplo 3 T ed in the applica*- 
tion for trade-marks, subject those guilty of the same to the penalties 
established by the criminal code of procedure, besides the civil lia¬ 
bility to interested third parties. 

Foreign trade-marks registered. — Foreign trade-marks registered 
abroad may also be registered in the fomento department, whether 
international treaties or conventions on the subject exist or not, when¬ 
ever, in the judgment of the National Executive, the manufactures or 
articles they protect are deemed to have demonstrated their usefulness. 

TRADE-MARKS LAW. 

[Full text of law.] 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Article 1 . Any person or company domiciled in the Republic and 
any corporation created by national authority or by the Federal States 
or Territories, as well as any person, company, or corporation domi¬ 
ciled in a foreign country in which, by virtue of a treaty or agree¬ 
ment, Venezuelans have the same or analogous rights as those granted 
by this law, can obtain protection or guaranty covering any legitimate 
trade or commerce mark for the use of which an exclusive right has 
been granted, or the adoption or use of which is desired for this pur¬ 
pose, provided the requirements of the present law have been complied 
with. 

Art. 2. Any person desiring to obtain official protection for a trade 
or commerce mark shall file before the minister of fomento a petition 
on sealed paper of the seventh class, expressing the name of the inter¬ 
ested person, his residence, and business domicile; the kind of arti- 


TRADE-MARKS.. 


517 


cle or merchandise covered or intended to be covered by the trade 

•/ 

or commerce mark; the peculiar description of the articles or objects 
included in the class covered or intended to be covered by the trade¬ 
mark; a description of the same, with facsimiles in which can be seen 
its application and use; and, finally, the time during which the trade¬ 
mark has already been in use, in case that it should not be the first 
time that its use or application is petitioned for. 

Art. 3. Said petition shall be signed by the interested person, or by 
the person representing him, provided he can show a power of attorney 
in due form from the owner or owners of the trade-mark, also stating 
in writing that the person petitioning for the trade or commerce mark 
has the right to use it, and that said trade-mark does not resemble an} r 
other analogous one already registered, so that it could not be mistaken 
for it and thus deceive the public. The interested party shall also 
assert that the aforesaid description or facsimiles which are to be reg¬ 
istered in the corresponding book are exact copies of the trade-mark 
for which protection is asked. 

Art. 4. The minister of fomento shall not receive or register a 
trade or commerce mark which is not and can never be a lawful mark, 
or which is merel} r the name of a person, company, or corporation not 
accompanied by a mark sufficient to distinguish it from the same name 
when used by another person, or that the mark be equal to another 
covering the same class of objects and belonging to another person, or 
that the said mark be registered or presented to be registered, or that 
it be so much like the last-mentioned trade-mark that it can be easily 
mistaken for it and thus deceive the public. 

Art. 5. When any trade or commerce mark is submitted to the 
department of fomento to obtain the protection which this law grants 
the date of submittal shall be recorded and registered, and copies of 
the trade-mark, with the date of its presentation and of the petition 
addressed to the minister of fomento, sealed with seal of the depart¬ 
ment and certified by the minister, shall be considered sufficient proof 
in case a controversy should arise as to priority for the use of the 
trade-mark. 

Art. 6 . When the established provisions have been complied with, 
the National Executive, through the department of fomento, shall 
issue to the interested party, provided there is no opposition from a 
third party, a certificate in national sealed paper of the third class , 
which the interested party is to provide , in which it shall be declared 
that said person is the proprietor of the trade or commerce mark reg¬ 
istered with all its specifications. Said certificate, which shall be 
sufficient title for the registrar, shall be signed by the minister of 
fomento and sealed with the seal of the department. 

Art. 7. The exclusive right for the use of all trade or commerce 
marks registered and certified in the above-mentioned manner shall be 


518 


VENEZUELA. 


in complete legal force for a term of thirty years, to be reckoned from 
the date of registration, with the exception of the case when the mark 
covers articles manufactured abroad and in which the same mark is 
protected, according to the law of a foreign country, for a shorter 
period; then the mark registered by virtue of this law shall cease to 
enjoy the official protection which it grants at the same time when pro¬ 
tection granted by the foreign law ceases. 

Art. 8. All trade-marks registered in the aforesaid manner shall 
empower the person, company, or corporation who has registered 
them to use them exclusively, provided the objects or merchandise be 
substantially of the same properties and conditions as those described 
and consigned in the registry. 

Art. 9. During six months prior to the expiration of the term of 
thirty years the petitioner can ask for the renewal of the registry of 
any trade or commerce mark, and this shall be granted under the same 
conditions as when first given, in a title written on sealed paper of the 
same class as formerly. The duration of this registration shall be for 
thirty }mars, as in the first case. 

Art. 10. No person can legally claim the exclusive right to a trade¬ 
mark which is used or is intended for use in unlawful trade, or for an 
object noxious in itself, or for a trade-mark which has been obtained 
by fraud, or which has been formed or used with a view of deceiving 
the public when buying or selling any merchandise. 

Art. 11. Any person endeavoring to obtain personally, or through 
some one else, the registration of any trade or commerce mark, or 
who may petition the fomento department for anything which bears 
on this subject, by means of false or fraudulent representations or 
declarations in words or in writing, or by any other fraudulent means, 
shall- be subject to the penalties established by the criminal code, not-, 
withstanding- which the third party has always a right of claim for 
damages. 

Art. 12. Any person found reproducing, imitating, or copying a 
registered trade-mark, or using it on any merchandise containing the 
same properties and qualities as those described in the registry, is held 
answerable before the court for the damages caused by the illegal use 
of such a mark, without being held free in cases of fraud from suffer¬ 
ing the penalties established by the criminal code. 

Art. 13. All that which relates to the registry referred to in the 
present law shall be in charge of the section which has charge of 
privileges or patents in the fomento department. 

Art. 1-1. The section mentioned in the above article shall have two 
books for registry, which shall be renewed each time that it be neces¬ 
sary, one for registering trade-marks and the other for commercial 
marks, and a file is to be formed separately in every case. 

Art. 15. The National Executive shall establish the rules and regu- 


COPYRIGHT LAW. 


519 


5 Tying out the present law, and shall publish 

every year in the respective report of the department the lithographed 
trade or commerce marks registered, and can give access to the reg¬ 
isters to any person petitioning therefor, and allow the publication 


of engravings of said marks. 

Art. 16. Trade or commerce marks of foreign products or merchan¬ 
dise registered in other countries can also be registered in the fomento 
department, although there be no international treaties or conventions 
in existence on the subject, when the products or merchandise are of 
recognized utility in the Republic in the opinion of the National 
Executive. 

Given and signed in the palace of the Federal Legislature at Caracas 
on May 18, 1877, fourteenth year of the law and the nineteenth of 
federation. 

The president of Senate, Diego B. Urbaneja; the president of the 
Deputies, Laurencio Silva; the secretary Senator, M. Caballero; the 
secretary Deputy, F. Tosta Garcia. 


PRINCIPAL COPYRIGHT PROVISONS. 

The copyright law now in force in Venezuela bears the date of June 
30, 1891. The following is an abstract of its principal provisions. 

The term a author” shall mean every person who has composed a 
scientific, literary, or artistic work, and the term u translator” includes 
all persons who reproduce an original work or composition in a lan¬ 
guage other than that in which it was composed. The rights which 
authors and translators have to their productions shall be considered 
as sacred and inviolable as their rights over any other kind of prop¬ 
erty. The right of property over a literary work lawfully belongs to 
its author, and a translation to the translator, if no international agree¬ 
ment provides otherwise. No one may reproduce the work of another 
without the previous permission of the author or owner, even when it 
be reproduced with notes, glossaries, and additions which improve the 
previous edition; but an}^one may publish commentaries, criticisms, 
and notes on any work whatsoever, including therein only the frag¬ 
ments or texts necessary for the purpose. 


COPYRIGHT LAW.« 

[Full text of law. ] 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees: 

Article 1. For the purposes of the present decree and the rights 
thereby secured the term “author” shall mean every person who has 
composed a scientific, literary, or artistic work; and the term “ trans¬ 


it Compilation of Laws and Decrees of Venezuela, \ol. XVII, p. 400. 





520 


VENEZUELA. 


lator" shall include all persons who reproduce an original work or 
composition in a language other than that in which it was composed. 

Art. 2. The right which an author has over a work which he has 
composed and the right which translators acquire over the works or 
compositions which they have translated constitute intellectual prop¬ 
erty; this shall be as sacred and inviolable as any other kind of property 
and shall be subject to the civil law unless otherwise provided by 
statute. 

Art. 3. The right of property over a literary work lawfully belongs 
to its author, and as regards a “translation" it belongs to the transla¬ 
tor if no international agreement provides otherwise. 

Art. 4. The right to intellectual property is from its nature per¬ 
petual and is insured by the present law to: 

1. Authors, in respect of their works; 

2. Translators, in respect of their translations; 

3. Those who recast, abridge, extract, or reproduce original or 
translated works with the permission and good will of their proprietors; 

A. Editors of unpublished works which have no known owner, or if 
the authors do not lawfully assert their rights; 

5. Those who acquire the right of ownership over any work, whether 
scientific, literary, or artistic, by purchase or any other transfer of 
title; 

6. The heirs and representatives of those persons referred to in the 
above subsections; and 

T. The nation, in case of the death of the owner without lawful heirs. 

Art. 5. Intellectual property is transmissible by deed; and the 
assigned work shall belong in perpetuity to the assignee provided that 
in the transfer of ownership the rules and regulations of the civil law 
have been observed. 

Art. 6 . The author of a scientific, literary, or artistic work is the 
only person who has the right to issue or reissue it or to authorize its 
issue in any form whatever, and in the manner by law established. 

Art. 7. The right to translate a scientific or literary work or to per¬ 
mit the same to be translated belongs to the author. 

Art. 8. When two or more authors have collaborated to produce a 
work, the right of ownership, in the absence of agreement to the con¬ 
trary, belongs equally to all the collaborators, and their respective 
representatives and any or either of the coowners may prosecute all 
persons who trespass on his or their rights and obtain a decision in a 
contested action before the Tribunal of the Republic. 

Art. 9. Xo one may reproduce the work of another without the 
previous permission of the author or owner, even when it is repro¬ 
duced with notes, glossaries and additions which improve the previous 
edition; but anyone may publish commentaries, criticisms, and notes 
on any work whatsoever, including therein only the fragments or texts 
necessary for the purpose. 


COP TRIG HT LAW. 


521 


Art. 10. As regards works of art and especially in musical produc¬ 
tions, every reproduction which alters the original shall be esteemed 
and punished as a fraud on the rights secured by the present law; and 
it shall be necessary to obtain the previous consent of its author or his 
representatives in order to reproduce or copy in the same or other 
dimensions the work of another. 

Art. 11. The publisher of any anonymous or pseudonymous work 
shall be held to be its author, saving always the rights of third par¬ 
ties, who on proving that he or the} 7 is or are the author or authors of 
the work published may establish the right which legally belongs to 
him or them. 

Art. 12. The translator of a work has only the right of ownership 
over his translation and can not raise objection to others translating 
the same work. 

Art. 13. The legal transferee of a work, whether scientilic, liter¬ 
ary, musical, or painting, sculpture, etc., may not in any way what¬ 
ever alter it, for the purpose of publishing or reproducing it, without 
the previous consent of the author or his representatives. 

Art. 11. As regards scientilic and literary works, intellectual prop¬ 
erty shall mean all manifestations of ideas, whether spoken or written, 
including not only works which are published, but writings of every 
kind; and therefore the following shall not be published without the 
consent of their author, whether in pamphlet or in any other form: 

1. Oral lessons and lectures taught or spoken by any person; 

2. Pleadings or forensic writings (briefs) produced before any tri¬ 
bunal or court whatsoever by an advocate or attorney; and 

3. Parliamentary and academic discourses or of any other class, the 
former of which may be printed only in the Congressional Record 
(Diarios de Debates) of the legislative chambers or in the political 
newspapers, and the latter only in the said newspapers, without the 
consent of their authors. 

Sole paragraph .—This provision shall not affect the power of the 
courts and tribunals to issue copies and certificates. 

Art. 15. The authors of the writings and discourses referred to in 
the preceding article may publish or reproduce them in single sheets 
or in any other convenient form. 

Art. 16. The author or owner of a literary or musical work which 
it is desired to represent or execute without his consent in a theater 
or other public place whatsoever may apply to the first political 
authority of the district to safeguard his rights, and the said authority 
shall order the representation or execution of the said work to be sus¬ 
pended, provided the complainant justifies his opposition. 

Art. IT. If, in spite of the prohibition, the representation or exe¬ 
cution of the work should take place, the entrance money or total 
product of the function or show shall belong to the owner of the 


522 


VENEZUELA. 


work, to whom it shall be paid over by the authority as soon as it 
has been recovered b}^ a short and summary process. 

Art. 18. The author or owner of every dramatic or musical com¬ 
position has the right to claim from all persons concerned the product 
of the representation or execution of his work in a theater or place of 
public amusement, and shall for this purpose proceed in accordance 
with the rules of civil law. 

Art. 19. Should a lyric-dramatic work be represented which is the 
outcome of collaboration between the composer of the libretto and that 
of the music, the entrance money or product of the function shall 
belong equally to the proprietors of the work unless otherwise agreed. 

Art. 20. Both the author of the libretto and the author of the 
musical part in lyric-dramatic works produced in collaboration 
may print and sell separately the respective parts which belong to 
each of them, and in tne musical part may be included the words that 
belong to it. 

Art. 21. In order to sustain the rights assured by the present law 
and to prosecute every trespass thereon, a registry or index shall be 
established in which the name, surname, and residence of the author 
or translator and such other requisites and formalities as are herein¬ 
after provided shall be entered. 

Art. 22. The index referred to in the preceding article shall be 
kept by opening a registry in the office of the governor of the 
Federal district and in the office of each president of a State, and 
such scientific, literary, and artistic works as are presented at the 
respective offices shall be recorded for the purposes of the present law. 

Art. 23. The record or index above mentioned shall be kept in each 
office in a bound and paged volume, signed by the respective presi¬ 
dents of the States and by the governor of the Federal district. 

Art. 24. On entering a work in the register the following circum¬ 
stances shall be noted: 

1. The given name, surname, and residence of the applicant. 

2. The title of the work. 

3. The given name and surname of the author, translator, com¬ 
piler, etc. 

4. The place and year of printing. 

5. The edition, size, number of volumes and pages of which the 
work consists, and such other data as in the opinion of the party 
interested should be registered for the greater security of his rights. 

Art. 25. In order to enjoy the benefits of this law the author or 
translator of the work or his duly qualified representative shall, 
before printing, engraving, or lithographing the same, transmit to 
the governor of the Federal district or to the president of the 
respective State a memorial containing the title of the work or com¬ 
position and asking that it be registered and a license be issued to him 


COPYRIGHT LAW. 


523 


in order that he may enjo}^ the advantages of authorship which rightly 


belong to him. 

Art. 26. On receipt of the said memorial the president or governor 
shall cause the applicant to make oath before him that the said origi¬ 
nal work or translation which is presented has not been previously 
printed, engraved, or lithographed, either in this country or abroad, 
and when the oath has been duly taken he shall cause the title to be 
registered in the index mentioned in article 21. 

Art. 27. After the registration has been effected the president or 
governor shall issue to the applicant a license, sealed with the seal of 
the state or Federal district, and which shall be in the following terms* 

“1, N. N., governor of the Federal district or president of the 
State (here the name of the State) make known that (here the name of 
the applicant) has appeared before me and claimed the exclusive right 
to publish and sell a work, the same being his property, the title of 
which has been deposited in this office, and is (here the title of the 
work), and that he having duly taken the oath required by law, I put 
him in possession of the right granted by the said law. 

“Given at (here the place and date where and when the license was 
issued, and below the signature of the president or governor, counter¬ 
signed by the respective secretary).” 

Art. 28. In the register, which is kept in Caracas or in the capital 
of each State, there shall be entered in the same way as the title of 
written works those of engravings, lithographs, architectural plans, 
geographical, and every other kind of charts which it is desired to 
put under the protection of this law. 

In these works the note “Registered according to law” shall be put 
at the foot thereof, signed by the respective authority. 

Art. 29. The license which guarantees the rights assured by this 
law shall be printed on the back of the page containing the title of the 
work and shall be published in the Official Gazette four times at least. 

Art. 30. Nothing whatsoever shall be paid for entering a work in 
the register and issuing the license mentioned imthe above articles, 
but the license must be drawn up on the proper sealed paper. 

Art. 31. The proprietor of a work shall deliver to the office where 
it has been registered six copies thereof; one shall remain deposited 
in the said office and the others shall be transmitted to the minister of 
public instruction. 

Art. 32. The offense of plagiarizing a work to the detriment of the 
owner of the literary work shall be punished in accordance with the 
penal code, and all persons who fraudulently commit any act or pro¬ 
ceedings against the said owner and all persons who knowingly sell, or 
have in their stores or shops with intent to sell, or import into the 
country, plagiarized works shall be guilty of the said offense. 

The apparent authors of the fraud shall in the first place be respon- 


524 


VENEZUELA. 


sible for the commission thereof, and in their default the publisher or 
printer, unless they prove their innocence. 

Art. 33. Besides the punishment which is inflicted on counterfeiters 
and falsifiers under the penal law, they shall suffer the confiscation and 
loss of all the copies of the counterfeit work, which shall be handed 
over to the defrauded owner, and the plates, molds, and matrices and 
other implements which have been used in the perpetration of the 
offense shall be destroyed by the proper tribunal. 

Art. 34. Every endeavor to conceal the crime, such as changing- the 
title of the work or altering the text for publication, shall be considered 
an aggravating circumstance. 

Art. 35. Every infraction of the present law shall be prosecuted 
by the courts or tribunals, on the application of the injured person or 
persons who may institute civil and criminal proceedings concurrently. 

Art. 36. In the course of the above-mentioned proceedings the 
judge or tribunal who takes cognizance of the cause shall appoint two 
competent persons to describe and examine the works and objects 
which are thought to be falsified, and the} 7 ' shall give their opinion 
thereon. 

Art. 37. The Government of the Republic may make such agree¬ 
ments and stipulations with friendly nations as it may deem expedient 
for better carrying into execution the doctrines on which this law is 
founded, but may never grant greater or other rights than those 
assured by the Venezuelan legislation to intellectual property. 

Art. 38. The ownership of posthumous works belongs to the heirs 
or representatives of their respective authors, and in this class shall 
be included such as the author left recast, added to, annotated, and 
corrected, thus improving the previous productions. 

Art. 39. The law of May 12,1887, concerning intellectual property, 
is hereby repealed. 

Given at the palace of the federal legislative body, at Caracas, the 
17th day of May, 1894, eighty-third year of the independence, and 
thirty-sixth of the federation. 

The president of the Chamber of the Senate, Vicente Amengual; 
the president of the Chamber of Deputies, J. Francisco Castillo; the 
secretary of the Chamber of the Senate, Francisco Pimentel; the 
secretary of the Chamber of Deputies, J. A. Bosa. 

Federal palace, in Caracas, June 30, 1894, eighty-third year of the 
independence and thirty-sixth of the federation. 

Let it be communicated and published, Joaquin Crespo. Counter¬ 
signed, the minister of public instruction, Luis Epelosm. 

ARMY. 

Military service compulsory.—Military service is compulsory for all 
Venezuelan citizens over 21 years of age and less than 50. (Mil. 
Code 1903, art. 1.) 


ARMY. 


525 


Organization of the army.—The national army is divided into active 
army and reserve army. Congress establishes every year the number 
of officers and men who are to be under arms. 

Reserve army.—The reserve army consists of all Venezuelans who 
form the militia of the federal district and the States, organized 
according the constitution to form in turns the active arm} 7 and ready 
for the national defense, but without being in arms. 

Active army.—The active army consists of the contingent from the 
reserve furnished to the Government by the federal district and 
States of the union according to the annual law of Congress. All per¬ 
sons serving in the army in whatever capacity are comprised in the 
active army and subject to the provisions of the military code. 

Forces.—The active army is divided into land and maritime forces, 
which depend from the federal Executive according to the provisions 
of the military and naval codes. The active army consists of the fol¬ 
lowing branches: Infantry, artillery, and cavalry. 

Units.—The units of tactics of these branches are the infantry bat¬ 
talion, artillery battery, and cavalry squadron. 

Infantry battalions.—The staff consists of a general or colonel in 
command, a colonel or lieutenant-colonel second in command, a lieu¬ 
tenant-colonel instructor, a captain adjutant, a paymaster, a lieutenant 
adjutant, a second lieutenant, flag bearer, a brigade sergeant, a drum¬ 
mer, and a bugler. Battalions consist of 400 privates, divided into 4 
companies, commanded each by a captain, 2 lieutenants, and 2 second 
lieutenants. Each company has a sergeant-major, 4 second, 4 cor¬ 
porals, 4 second, 3 band privates, and 84 soldiers, and is divided into 
4 sections numbered from 1 to 4. 

Artillery Batteries.—Artillery is divided into camp, mountain, fort, 
siege, and coast artillery. Each battery besides the respective staff 
and soldiers has four cannon with their respective appurtenances. 

Cavalry squadrons.—Besides the staff of commissioned and non¬ 
commissioned officers the squadron consists of 100 men, divided into 
four sections. 

Brigades.—At least two battalions are necessary to form a brigade. 

Divisions.—Two brigades form a division, which consists of two 
infantry, one artillery, and one cavalry brigade. Only in exceptional 
cases can they consist of one or two branches of the military service. 

General staff.—Divisions of the army have each a general staff. 

Object of the army—(1) To defend the integrity, independence, and 
liberty of the nation; (2) To maintain public order; (3) To maintain 
the enforcement of the constitution and laws; (4) To give its support 
to federal authorities and functionaries lawfully established; (5) To 
protect persons and property according to law; (6) To carry into 
execution the military service that may be assigned to it by the 
federal Executive. 


526 


VENEZUELA. 


Military schools and academies. —Each battalion, battery, or squadron 
has a military school for privates and a military academy for officers. 

On July 4, 1903, the Military Academy of Venezuela was decreed 
by the Federal Executive as a central military academy for all branches 
of the service, to impart military training for the graduation of 
infantry, artillery, cavalry, engineer, and general-staff officers. 

Military instruction board. —There shall be a permanent chief board 
of military instruction in the Federal District, with its respective staff, 
which has charge of all matters pertaining to the promotion, develop¬ 
ment, and regulation of military academies in Venezuela. 

Military hospital.— On July 3, 1903, the Federal Executive decreed 
the establishment of a military hospital in the Federal District. 

Military authorities. —The Army has the following military 
authorities: 

An inspector-general of the army; a commander of the forces in the 
Federal District and in every one of the States of the Union; a civil 
and military commander in the Bolivar, Barcelona, and Falcon States; 
a military commander at La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Carupano, 
Cumana, the Zaraza district, Giiiria, Irapa and Yaguaraparo, and 
Yaracuy; a commander of the Vigia and San Carlos forts, at La 
Guaira; a commander of Fort Solano, at Puerto Cabello; a com¬ 
mander of the Campo Elias and Villapol forts, in the Bolivar State, 
and a commander of the San Carlos fortress, at Maracaibo. 

War and navy budget.— The following table shows the sums expended 
in this budget from 1899 to 1903, namely: 

1899 ...... $ 1 , 008,900 

1900 . 571,438 

1901 . 1 , 678,323 

1902 . 3 , 271,257 

1903 . 2 , 614,004 

NAVY. 


Organization. —The navy consists of all the war ships, armed or 
unarmed, belonging to the nation or that may be so declared, for the 
defense of the coast or any other service that may be assigned to it. 
The navy is divided into active and reserve. To the latter belong all 
ships owned by Venezuelan citizens. The navy is further divided 
into squadrons of fleets, and these into naval divisions. Each squadron 
consists of at least three ships. 

Naval service compulsory.— All Venezuelans, not otherwise exempted 
by the laws, devoted to navigation or any maritime work are obliged 
to serve in the navy for two 3 T ears. 

Naval forces. —Congress determines every year the number of offi¬ 
cers and men of which the Venezuelan navy is to consist. The marines 
are supplied from the contingent which each State has to contribute 
for the national army. Only when naturalized are aliens allowed to 
serve in the navy. 







NAVY. 


527 


Object of the navy.—(1) To defend the integrity, independence, and 
of the nation; (2) maintain peace and public order in the waters 
and coasts of the Republic; (3) sustain the constitution and laws; (4) to 
prevent vessels not legally cleared from navigating in Venezuelan 
waters, having power to seize them; (5) to watch outside the ports of 
the nation to prevent any act of piracy or violation of Veneuzelan 
laws; (6) to fulfill any service assigned to it by the Veneuzelan Federal 
Executive. 

Naval rank.—The equivalence between naval and military rank is as 
follows: 

The President of the Republic when in command in time of war is 
the ranking officer of the navy. The list of rank and file is as follows: 

Commodore equal to general in chief. 

Captain of warship equal to division general. 

Captain of frigate equal to brigadier-general. 

Naval lieutenant equal to colonel. 

Frigate lieutenant equal to lieutenant-colonel. 

Naval ensign equal to captain. 

Frigate ensign equal to first lieutenant. 

Guard equal to ensign. 

Boatswain equal to first sergeant. 

Quartermaster equal to second sergeant. 

First-class marine equal to first corporal. 

Second-class marine equal to second corporal. 

Marine equal to private. 

Commissioned officers are those holding rank from guard upward. 

Naval schools.—There is a nautical school on board each Venezuelan 
man-of-war, in which, besides naval and military matters, an extensive 
programme of studies is followed. Naval officers graduate from this 
school. On board each war ship there is a naval school for officers 
and men. 

Venezuelan navy.—The Venezuelan navy consists at present of the 
following men-of-war: Restaur ador, Bolivar , Zamora , Zumhador , 
Miranda , Margarita , and 23 de Mayo. 

Revenue cutters.—There are 17 vessels assigned to the revenue-cutter 
service and 3 to that of the salt deposits. 

Regulations for preventing collisions at sea.—Since 1897 Venezuela 
promulgated a decree regulating the movements of vessels, the pro¬ 
visions of which decree are similar to those adopted by the International 
Marine Conference held in W 
October, 1889. 

Foreign men-of-war.—They can not remain more than one month in 
any Venezuelan port without applying to the local naval authority 
for permission to do so. 

METRIC SYSTEM. 

From the time of the Conquest to the year 1800 Venezuela had 
the old Spanish system of weights and measures. The system was 


ashington, United States of America, in 



528 


VENEZUELA 


modified on January 26, 1801, and remained thus in force until Octo¬ 
ber 11, 1821. 

On February 13, 1857, the Venezuelan Congress decreed the adop¬ 
tion of the metric system, but it was not definitely put into practice 
until the year 1873, and since then it has been the only legal system 
in use for weights and measures. The following are the equivalents 
of the old system for some weights and measures: 1 coffee bag=46 
kilos, 1 cacao bag=50 kilos, 1 pound—46 kilos, 1 fanega (corn)=212 
pounds, 1 fanega (salt)=280 pounds, 1 fanega (potatoes) = 240 pounds, 
other fanegas = 216 pounds, 1 quintal = 100 pounds. 

METRIC AND OTHER WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

The following tables have been compiled and abridged from the cir¬ 
cular of information (No. 4) of the United States Bureau of Statistics, 
entitled “Tables of Equivalents,” first edition, 1903: 


Length (inches and millimeters)—Equivalents of decimal and common fractions of an inch 

in millimeters. 


[From & to 1 inch.] 


7 ' 

7 

Sths. 

A 

CO 

CO 

'C 

01 

CO 

GO 

+-> 

CO 

Millimeters. 

Decimals of 
an inch. 

Inch. 

OQ 

«2 

X 

-*-> 

00 

lGths. 

32ds. 

64ths. 

Millimeters. 

Decimals of 

an inch. 






1 

= 0.397 

0.015625 







33 

=13.097 

0.515625 





1 

2 

= .794 

. 03125 






17 

34 

= 13.494 

.53125 






3 

= 1.191 

. 046875 







35 

= 13.891 

.546875 




1 

2 

4 

= 1.588 

.0625 





9 

18 

36 

= 14.288 

. 5625 






5 

= 1.984 

.078125 







37 

=14.684 

. 578125 





3 

6 

= 2.381 

.09375 






19 

38 

=15. 081 

. 59375 






7 

= 2.778 

.109375 







39 

=15.478 

. 609375 



1 

2 

4 

8 

= 3.175 

. 1250 




5 

10 

20 

40 

=15.875 

.625 






9 

= 3.572 

.140625 







41 

=16.272 

.640625 





5 

10 

= 3.969 

.15625 






21 

42 

=16.669 

.65625 






11 

= 4.366 

.171875 







43 

= 17.066 

. 671875 




3 

6 

12 

= 4.763 

.1875 





11 

22 

44 

=17.463 

.6875 






13 

= 5.159 

.203125 







45 

=17.859 

.703125 





7 

14 

= 5.556 

.21875 






23 

46 

=18. 256 

.71875 






15 

= 5.953 

.234375 







47 

=18.653 

.734375 


1 

2 

4 

8 

16 

= 6.350 

.2500 



3 

6 

12 

24 

48 

=19.050 

.75 






17 

= 6.747 

. 265625 







49 

=19. 447 

.765625 





9 

18 

= 7.144 

.28125 






25 

50 

=19.844 

.78125 






19 

= 7.541 

.296875 







51 

=20.241 

.796875 




5 

10 

20 

= 7.938 

. 3125 





13 

26 

52 

=20. 638 

. 8125 






21 

= 8.334 

. 328125 







53 

‘=21.034 

.828125 





11 

22 

= 8.731 

.34375 






27 

54 

=21.431 

. 84375 






23 

= 9.128 

.359375 







55 

=21.828 

.859375 



3 

6 

12 

24 

= 9.525 

.3750 




7 

14 

28 

56 

=22.225 

.875 






25 

= 9.922 

.390625 







57 

=22. 622 

. 890625 





13 

26 

=10.319 

.40625 






29 

58 

=23.019 

. 90625 






27 

=10.716 

. 421875 







59 

=23. 416 

. 921875 




7 

14 

28 

=11.113 

. 4375 





15 

30 

60 

=23.813 

.9375 






29 

=11.509 

.453125 







61 

=24. 209 

. 953125 





15 

30 

= 11.906 

.46875 






31 

62 

=24.606 

. 96875 






31 

=12. 303 

.484375 







63 

=25.003 

. 984375 

1 

2 

4 

8 

16 

32 

=12. 700 

.5 

1 

2 

4 

8 

1G 

32 

64 

=25.400 

1.000 















































^ x *-i 


MEASURES 


529 


Lengths—Hundredths of an inch to millimeters. 


[From 1 to 100 hundredths.] 


Hun¬ 
dredths 
of an 
inch. 

0 

1 

m 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 


0 

0. 254 

0.508 

0.762 

1.016 

1.270 

1.524 

1.778 

2.032 

2.286 

10 

2. 540 

2. 794 

3.048 

3. 302 

3.556 

3.810 

4.064 

4.318 

4.'572 

4.826 

20 

5.080 

5.334 

6.588 

5.842 

6.096 

6.350 

6.604 

6.858 

7.112 

7.366 

30 

7. 620 

7.874 

8.128 

8.382 

8. 636 

8.890 

9.144 

9.398 

9.652 

9. 906 

40 

10.160 

10.414 

10. 668 

10.922 

11.176 

11.430 

11.684 

11.938 

12.192 

12.446 

50 

12.700 

12.954 

13.208 

13.462 

13. 716 

13. 970 

14. 224 

14.478 

14.732 

14. 986 

00 

15. 240 

15.494 

15. 748 

16.002 

16.256 

16.510 

16.764 

17.018 

17.272 

17.526 

70 

17.780 

18.034 

18.288 

18.542 

18. 796 

19.050 

19.304 

19.558 

19.812 

20.066 

80 

20. 320 

20.574 

20.828 

21.082 

21.336 

21. 590 

21.844 

22.098 

22.352 

22.606 

90 

22.860 

23.114 

23. 368 

23. 622 

23.876 

24.130 

24.384 

24.638 

24.892 

25.146 


Lengths—Millimeters to decimals of an inch. 

[From 1 to 100 units.] 


Milli¬ 

meters. 

0 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 


0 

0.03937 

0. 07874 

0.11811 

0.15748 

0.19685 

0.23622 

0.27559 

0. 31496 

0.35433 

10 

0.39370 

.43307 

.47244 

.51181 

.55118 

. 59055 

.62992 

. 66929 

. 70866 

.74803 

20 

.78740 

.82677 

.86614 

.90551 

. 94488 

. 98425 

1.02362 

1.06299 

1.10236 

1.14173 

30 

1.18110 

1.22047 

1. 25984 

1.29921 

1. 33858 

1.37795 

1.41732 

1.45669 

1.49606 

1.53543 

40 

1.57480 

1.61417 

1.65354 

1.69291 

1.73228 

1.77165 

1.81102 

1. 85039 

1.88976 

1.92913 

50 

1. 96850 

2.00787 

2.04724 

2. 08661 

2.12598 

2.16535 

2.20472 

2.24409 

2. 28346 

2. 32283 

60 

2.36220 

2.40157 

2.44094 

2.48031 

2.51968 

2.55905 

2.59842 

2.63779 

2. 67716 

2.71653 

70 

2.75590 

2.79527 

2.83464 

2.87401 

2.91338 

2.95275 

2.99212 

3. 03149 

3.07086 

3.11023 

80 

3.14960 

3.18897 

3.22834 

3.26771 

3.30708 

3.34645 

3.38582 

3.42519 

3.46456 

3.50393 

90 

3.54330 

3.58267 

3.62204 

3. 66131 

3. 70078 

3. 74015 

3.77952 

3.81889 

3.85826 

3.89763 


Comparison of metric and customary units from 1 to 10. 

LENGTHS. 


Inches. 


Millime¬ 

ters. 


0.03937 = 1 

. 07874 = 2 

.11811 = 3 

.15748 = 4 

.19685 = 5 

.23622 = 6 

.27559 = 7 

. 31496 = 8 

. 35433 = 9 

= 25.4001 
= 50.8001 
= 76.2002 
= 101.6002 

= 127.0003 
= 152.4003 
= 177.8004 
= 203.2004 
= 228.6005 


Inches. 

Centime¬ 

ters. 

Feet. 


Meters. 

U. S. yards. 

Meters. 

U. S. miles. 

Kilome¬ 

ters. 

0. 3937 


1 

1 

_ 

0.304801 

1 

_ 

0.914402 

0.62137 

_ 

1 

.7874 

— 

2 

2 

= 

.609601 

1.093611 

= 

1 

1 

= 

1.60935 

1 

= 

2.54001 

3 

= 

.914402 

ad 

= 

1.828804 

1.24274 

= 

2 

1.1811 

= 

3 

3. 28083 

= 

1 

2.187222 

= 

2 

1.86411 

= 

3 

1.5748 

__ 

4 

4 

— 

1.219202 

3 

— 

2.743205 

2 

—■ 

3.21869 

1.9685 

— 

5 

5 

= 

1.524003 

3.280833 

= 

3 

2.48548 

= 

4 

2 

— 

5.08001 

6 

= 

1.828804 

4 


3. 657607 

3 

= 

4.82804 

2. 3622 

— 

6 

6.56167 

=. 

2 

4.374444 

= 

4 

3.10685 

= 

5 

2.7559 

= 

7 

7 

= 

2.133604 

5 

= 

4.572009 

3.72822 

= 

6 

3 

, 

7.62002 

8 

— 

2.438405 

5.468056 

— 

5 

4 


6. 43739 

3.1496 


8 

9 


2.743205 

6 

= 

5.486411 

4. 34959 

= 

7 

3.5433 


9 

9.84250 

= 

3 

6.561667 

= 

6 

4.97096 

= 

8 

4 

= 

10.16002 

13.12333 

= 

4 

7 

= 

6.400813 

5 

= 

8.04674 

5 


12.70003 

16.40417 

— 

5 

7.655278 

z=z 

7 

5.59233 

= 

9 

0 


15.24003 

19. 68500 


6 

8 

= 

7.315215 

6 

= 

9.65608 

7 

— 

17.78004 

22.96583 

= 

7 

8. 748889 

= 

8 

7 

= 

11.26543 

8 


20.32004 

26.24667 

= 

8 

9 

= 

8.229616 

8 

= 

12. 87478 

9 

= 

22.86005 

29.52750 

= 

9 

9.842500 


9 

9 


14.48412 


4 a— 04 - 34 





































































530 


VENEZUELA 


Comparison of metric and customary units from 1 to 10 —Continued. 

AREAS. 


Square 

inches. 

Square 

millimeters. 

Square Square cen- 
inches. timeters. 

Square 

feet. 


Square 

meters. 

Square 

yards. 


Square 

meters. 

Square 

miles. 

Square 

kilometers. 

0.00155 

= 1 

0.1550 


1 

1 


0.09290 

1 

_ 

0.8361 

0.3861 

— 

1 

0.00310 

_ 2 

0.3100 

— 

2 

2 

— - 

0.18581 

1.1960 


1 

0.7722 

= 

2 

0.00465 

= 3 

0.4650 

= 

3 

3 


0.27871 

2 

= 

1. 6723 

1 

= 

2. 5900 

0.00620 

= 4 

0. 6200 

= 

4 

4 

= 

0. 37161 

2.3920 

= 

2 

1.1583 

= 

3 

0.00775 

= 5 

0. 7750 

— 

5 

5 

■— 

0. 46452 

3 

= 

2.5084 

1. 5444 


4 

0.00930 

= <! 

0. 9300 

= 

6 

6 

= 

0. 55742 

3. 5880 

= 

3 

1. 9305 

= 

5 

0. 01085 

= 7 

1 

— 

6. 452 

7 

= 

0. 65032 

4 

= 

3.3445 

2 

= 

5.1800 

0. 01240 

= 8 

1. 0850 

— 

7 

8 

= 

0. 74323 

4.7839 


4 

2.3166 

= 

<i 

0.01395 

= 9 

1.2400 

= 

8 

9 

= 

0. 83613 

5 

= 

4.1807 

2. 7027 

= 

7 

1 

645.16 

1. 3950 

_ 

9 

10. 764 

— 

1 

5.9799 

— 

5 

3 


7.7700 

2 

= 1,290.33 

2 

— 

12. 903 

21. 528 


2 

6 


5. 0168 

3.0888 

= 

8 

3 

= 1,935.49 

3 


19.355 

32. 292 

=3 

3 

7 

= 

5.8529 

3.4749 

= 

9 

4 

= 2,580.65 

4 

=- 

25. 807 

43.055 

= 

4 

7.1759 

= 

<» 

4 


10.3600 

5 

= 3,225.81 

5 

— 

32. 258 

53. 819 

— 

5 

8 

= 

6.6890 

5 

—■ 

12.9500 

6 

=» 3,870.98 

6 

z=z 

38. 710 

64. 583 


6 

8. 3719 

= 

7 

6 


15.5400 

7 

= 4,516.14 

ri 

4 

— 

45.161 

75. 347 


7 

9 

= 

7. 5252 

7 

= 

18.1300 

8 

= 5,161.30 

8 

= 

51. 613 

86. Ill 

= 

8 

9. 5679 

= 

8 

8 

= 

20. 7200 

9 

= 5,806.46 

9 

= 

58.065 

96. S75 


9 

10. 7639 


9 

9 

= 

23. 3100 


VOLUMES. 


Cubic 

inches. 

Cubic 

milli¬ 

meters. 

Cubic 

inches. 


Cubic 

centi¬ 

meters. 

Cubic 

feet. 


Cubic 

meters. 

Cubic 

yards. 


Cubic 

meters. 

Acres. 

Hectares. 

0.000061 


1 

0.0610 


1 

1 

_ 

0.02832 

1 

_ 

0.7645 

1 

_ 

0.4047 

0.000122 

= 

2 

0.1220 


O 

md 

•2 

33 

0. 05663 

1.3079 

33 

1 

2 

= 

0.8094 

0. 000183 

= 

3 

0.1831 

= 

3 

3 

=3 

0. 08495 

2 

33 

1.5291 

2. 471 

= 

1 

0.000244 

= 

4 

0.2441 

= 

4 

4 

= 

0.11327 

2. 6159 

= 

2 

3 

= 

1.2141 

0.000305 

— 

5 

0. 3051 

— 

o 

o 


0.14159 

3 

= 

2. 2937 

4 

—? 

1.6187 

0.000366 

— 

6 

0.3661 

= 

« 

6 

= 

0.16990 

3. 9238 

= 

3 

4. 942 

= 

2 

0. 000427 

r= 

7 

0.4272 

= 

7 

7 

33 

0.19822 

4 

33 

3. 0582 

5 

= 

2. 0234 

0.000488 

= 

8 

0. 4882 

= 

8 

8 

= 

0.22654 

5 

= 

3.8228 

6 

= 

2.4281 

0.000549 

= 

9 

0. 5492 

= 

9 

9 

= 

0.25485 

5.2318 

= 

4 

7 

= 

2.8328 

1 

— 

16,387. 2 

1 

— 

16. 3872 

35.314 

— 

1 

6 

= 

4. 5874 

7.413 

= 

3 

2 

= 

32,774. 3 

2 

— 

32. 7743 

70.629 

33 

2 

6 .5397 

= 

5 

8 

= 

3.2375 

3 

3= 

49.161. 5 

3 

33 

49.1615 

105. 943 

33 

3 

7 

= 

5.3519 

9 

= 

3. 6422 

4 

= 

65,548. 6 

4 

= 

65. 5486 

141.258 

= 

4 

7.8477 

= 

6 

9.884 

= 

4 

5 

— 

81, 935.8 

5 

— 

81. 9358 

176.572 

— 

5 

8 

— 

6.1165 

12.355 

— 

5 

6 

33 

98,323.0 

6 

= 

98.3230 

211.887 

33 

6 

9 

z=z 

6.8810 

14. 826 


6 

7 

33 

114,710.1 

7 

= 

114.7101 

247.201 

33 

7 

9.1556 

= 

Ff 

4 

17. 297 

= 

7 

8 

= 

131,097.3 

8 

3= 

131.0973 

282. 516 

33 

8 

10. 4635 


8 

19. 768 

= 

8 

9 

= 

147,484.5 

9 

= 

147. 4845 

317.830 

= 

9 

11.7715 

= 

9 

22. 239 


9 


CAPACITIES. 


Milli¬ 

liters 

(cc.). 


U. S. 
liquid 
ounces. 

Milli¬ 

liters 

(cc.). 

U. S. 
apothe¬ 
caries’ 
drams. 

U. S. 
apothe¬ 
caries’ 
scruples. 

Milli¬ 

liters 

(cc.). 

U. S. 
liquid 
quarts. 


Liters. 

U. S. 
liquid 
gallons. 


Liters. 

1 

_ 

0.03381 

1 

= 0.2705 

0.8115 = 

1 

1 


0. 94636 

0.26417 


1 

‘2 

= 

0.06763 

2 

-= 0.5410 

1 = 

1.2322 

1.05668 


1 

0.52834 


2 

3 

= 

0.10144 

3 

= 0.8115 

1.6231 = 

2 

2 

= 

1.89272 

0.79251 

= 

3 

4 

= 

0.13526 

3.6967 

= 1 

2 = 

2.4645 

2.11336 

= 

2 

1 

= 

3.78543 






2.4346 = 

3 







5 


0.16907 

4 

= 1.0820 

3 

3. 6967 

3 

= 

2.83908 

1.05668 


4 

6 

= 

0. 20288 

5 

= 1.3525 

3.2461 = 

4 

3.17005 

= 

3 

1.32085 


5 

7 

= 

0. 23670 

6 

= 1.6231 

4 = 

4.9290 

4 

= 

3. 78543 

1.58502 

= 

6 

8 

= 

0. 27051 

7 

= 1.8936 

4.0577 = 

5 

4.22673 

= 

4 

1.84919 

= 

m 

4 

9 

= 

0. 30432 

7.3934 

= 2 

4.8692 = 

6 

5 

= 

4.73179 

2 

= 

7.57087 






5 = 

6.1612 







29.574 

= 

1 

8 

= 2.1641 

5.6807 = 

7 

5.28341 

= 

5 

2.11336 

= 

8 

59.147 

= 

2 

9 

= 2.4346 

6 = 

7.3934 

(> 


5.67815 

2.37753 


9 

88. 721 

= 

3 

11.0901 

= 3 

6.4923 = 

8 

6. 34009 

— 

6 

3 

=3 

11.35630 

118.295 

— 

4 

14.7869 

= 4 

7 « 

8. 6257 

7 


6. 62451 

4 

=3 

15.14174 






7.3038 = 

9 







147.869 

= 

5 

18.4836 

= o 

8 = 

9. 8579 

7.39677 


7 

5 

= 

18.92717 

177.442 

= 

6 

22.1803 

= 6 

9 = 

11. 0901 

8 

= 

7.57088 

6 

33 

22.71261 

207.016 

= 

7 

25.8770 

= 7 



8.45345 

=3 

8 

7 

-; 

26.49804 

236.590 

= 

8 

29. 5737 

= 8 



9 

= 

8. 51723 

8 

■- 

30.28348 

266.163 


9 

33.2704 

= 9 



9.51014 

= 

9 

9 

= 

34.06891 



















































MEASURES 


531 


Comparison of metric and customary units from 1 to 10 —Continued. 

CA P ACITIES—Con tinued. 


U. S. dry 
quarts. 


Liters. 

u. s. 

pecks. 

Liters. 

Deka¬ 

liters. 


u. s. 

pecks. 

u. s. 

bushels. 


Hecto¬ 

liters. 

U. S. 
bushels 
per acre. 

Hecto¬ 

liters 

per 

hectare 

0.9081 

— 

1 

0.11351 

= 1 

0. 8810 

___ 

1 

1 


0.35239 

1 


0.87078 

1 

= 

1. 1012 

0.22702 

= 2 

1 

= 

1.1351 

2 

— 

0.70479 

1.14840 


1 

1.8162 

= 

2 

0.34053 

.= 3 

1.7620 

33 

2 

2.83774 

— 

1 

2 

33 

1. 74156 

2 

= 

2.2025 

0. 45404 

= 4 

2 

33 

2.2702 

3 

— 

1.05718 

2. 29680 

-• 

O* 

2.7242 

= 

3 



2.6429 

•— 

3 







3 

= 

3.3037 

0.56755 

— 5 

3 

33 

3. 4053 

4 

33 

1.40957 

3 

=3 

2.61233 

3.6323 

= 

4 

0.68106 

=? 6 

3. 5239 

13= 

4 

5 

— 

1.76196 

3.44519 

;—• 

3 

4 

= 

4.4049 

0. 79457 

= 7 

4 

=3 

4.5404 

5. 67548 

S3 

2 

4 

33 

3.48311 

4.5404 

= 

5 

0.90808 

= 8 

4.4049 

33 

o 

6 

33 

2.11436 

4. 59359 

33 

4 

5 

= 

5.5061 

1 

= 8.80982 

5 

s 

5.6755 

m 

4 

— 

2.46675 

5 

;-; 

4.35389 

5.4485 

= 

6 



5. 2859 

— 

6 







6 

= 

6.6074 

1.02157 

= 9 

6 

33 

6.8106 

8 

—• 

2.81914 

5.74199 

33 

o 

6.3565 

= 

7 

2 

= 17.61964 

6.1669 

=2 

7 

8. 51323 

33 

3 

6 

33 

5. 22467 

7 

= 

7.7086 

3 

= 26.42946 

7 

33 

7. 9457 

9 

33 

3.17154 

6. 89039 

33 

6 

7.2646 

= 

8 

4 

= 35.23928 

7. 0479 

33 

8 

11.35097 

33 

4 

7 

33 

6. 09545 

8 

= 

8.8098 



7.9288 

=3 

9 







8.1727 

= 

9 

5 

= 44.04910 

8 

= 

9.0808 

14.18871 

23 

5 

8 

33 

6. 96622 

9 

= 

9. 9110 

B 

= 52.85892 

9 

33 

10.2159 

17.02645 

-_ 

6 

8.03879 

33 

7 




7 

= 61.66874 




19.86420 

3= 

7 

9 

3= 

7.83700 




8 

= 70.47856 




22.70194 

3= 

8 

9.18719 

= 

8 




9 

= 79.28838 




25.53968 

= 

9 

10. 33558 


9 


MASSES. 


Grains. 


Grams. 

Avoir¬ 

dupois 

ounces. 


Grams. 

Troy 

ounces. 


Grams. 

Avoir¬ 

dupois 

pounds. 


Kilo¬ 

grams. 

Troy 

pounds. 


Kilo¬ 

grams. 

1 


0.06480 

0.03527 


1 

0.03215 


1 

1 


0.45359 

1 

_ 

0.37324 

2 

33 

0.12960 

0.07055 

33 

2 

0.06430 

= 


2 

33 

0.90718 

2 

= 

0.74648 

3 

= 

0.19440 

0.10582 

33 

3 

0.09645 

= 

3 

2.20462 

= 

1 

2.67923 

= 

1 

4 

= 

0.25920 

0.14110 

— 

4 

0.12860 

= 

4 

3 

= 

1.36078 

3 

= 

1.11973 

o 

— 

0.32399 

0.17637 

— 

5 

0.16075 


5 

4 

— 

1.81437 

4 


1.49297 

6 

•- - 

0.38879 

0.21164 

= 

<* 

0.19290 

3= 

6 

4.40924 

=3 

o 

5 

=3 

1.86621 

7 

S3 

0.45359 

0. 24692 

33 

7 

0.22506 

= 

7 

5 

= 

2.26796 

5.35846 

= 

2 

8 

33 

0.51839 

0.28219 

33 

8 

0.25721 

= 

8 

6 

= 

2.72155 

6 

= 

2.23945 

9 

= 

0.58319 

0. 31747 

= 

9 

0.28936 

— 

9 

6. 61387 

= 

3 

7 

= 

2.61269 

15.4324 


1 

1 

_. 

28. 3495 

1 

— 

31.10348 

7 

= 

3.17515 

8 

33 

2. 98593 

30.8647 


2 

2 

- - 

56. 6991 

2 

33 

62.20696 

8 

= 

3.62874 

8.03769 

= 

3 

46. 2971 

= 

3 

3 

=3 

85.0486 

3 

33 

93.31044 

8.81849 

= 

4 

9 

=3 

3.35918 

61.7294 

= 

4 

4 

= 

113.3981 

4 

= 

124.41392 

9 

= 

4.08233 

10.71691 

= 

4 

77.1618 


5 

5 

_ 

141.7476 

5 

— 

155.51740 

11.02311 

■—; 

5 

13.39614 

33 

5 

92.5941 

— 

6 

6 

-• 

170.0972 

6 

33 

186.62088 

13.22773 

= 

6 

16.07537 

= 

<» 

108.0265 

— 

7 

7 

33 

198.4467 

7 

= 

217.72437 

15.43236 

= 

7 

18.75460 


7 

123. 4589 

— 

8 

8 

33 

226.7962 

8 

=3 

248. 82785 

17.63698 

= 

8 

21. 43383 

= 

8 

138.8912 

=» 

9 

9 


255.1457 

9 

== 

279. 93133 

19.84160 


9 

24.11306 


9 




































532 


VENEZUELA 


COMPARISON OF PRICES. 


French and German prices for metric units , British prices for imperial units , and United 
States prices for United States standard weights and measures. 

[Based upon the circular of the Secretary of the Treasury dated October 1, 1902, fixing the legal 
equivalent of the (German) mark at 23.8 cents, of the (French) franc at 19.3 cents, and the British 
pound sterling at $ 4 . 8665 .] 


Francs 
per kilo¬ 
gram. 

Dollars 
per avoir, 
pound. 

Francs 

per 

meter. 

Dollars 
per yard. 

Dollars 
Francs per U. S. 
per liter, liquid 
gal. 

Francs 
per hec¬ 
toliter. 

Dollars 

per 

bushel. 

Shillings Dollars 
per per U. S. 

British liquid 
imp. gal. gal. 

1 

= .088 

1 

= .176 

1 


.731 

1 

= .068 

1 

_ 

.203 

2 

= .175 

2 

= .353 

2 

= 

1.461 

2 

= .136 

2 


.405 

3 

= .263 

3 

- . 529 

3 

= 

2.192 

3 

= .204 

3 

=» 

.608 

4 

= .350 

4 

= .705 

4 

= 

2.922 

4 

= .272 

4 

rr~: 

.810 

5 

= .438 

5 

= .882 

5 

— 

3.653 

5 

= .340 

5 

- 

1.013 

6 

- .525 

6 

= 1.058 

6 


4.384 

6 

= .408 

6 

= 

1.216 

7 

= . 613 

n 

4 

= 1.234 

7 

= 

5.114 

1 

= .476 

7 

= 

1.418 

8 

= .700 

8 

= 1.411 

8 

— 

5. 844 

8 

= . 544 

8 

= 

1.621 

9 

= .788 

9 

= 1.587 

9 

= 

6 .575 

9 

= .612 

9 

= 

1.824 

11.423 

= 1 

5.667 

= 1 

1.369 

__ 

1 

14. 703 

= 1 

4.935 

_ 

1 

22.846 

= 2 

11.334 

= 2 

2. 738 

= 

2 

29. 407 

= 2 

9.871 

= 

2 

34.269 

= 3 

17. 000 

= 3 

4.106 

= 

3 

44.110 

= 3 

14.806 

= 

3 

45.691 

= 4 

22. 667 

= 4 

5.475 

= 

4 

58. 813 

= 4 

19. 742 

= 

4 

57.115 

= 5 

28. 334 

= 5 

6.844 

— 

5 

73. 517 

= 5 

24.677 

.—. 

5 

68 .537 

= 6 

34.001 

= 6 

8.213 

_: 

6 

88 . 220 

= 6 

29. 612 

= 

(> 

79.960 

n 

= 4 

39. 668 

= 7 

9. 581 

= 

7 

102. 923 

= 7 

34.548 

= 

7 

91.383 

= 8 

45. 334 

= 8 

10. 950 

= 

8 

117. 627 

= 8 

39.483 

= 

8 

102.806 

= 9 

51.001 

= 9 

12.319 


9 

132. 330 

= 9 

44.419 

= 

9 

Marks 
per kilo¬ 
gram. 

Dollars 
per avoir, 
pound. 

Marks 

per 

meter. 

Dollars 
per yard. 

Dollars 
Marks per U. S. 
per liter, liquid 
gal. 

Marks 
per hec¬ 
toliter. 

Dollars 

per 

bushel. 

Shillings 

per 

British 

bus. 

Dollars 
per U. S. 
bus. 

1 

= .108 

1 

= .218 

1 


.901 

1 

= .084 

1 


v .236 

9 

dd 

= .216 

2 

= .435 

2 

= 

1.802 

2 

= .168 

2 

= 

.472 

3 

= . 324 

3 

= .653 

3 


2.703 

3 

= . 252 

3 

= 

.707 

4 

= .432 

4 

= .871 

4 

= 

3.604 

4 

= .335 

4 

= 

.943 

5 

= .540 

5 

= 1.088 

5 

= 

4.505 

5 

= .419 

5 

= 

1.179 

6 

= .648 

6 

= 1.306 

6 

=. 

5.406 

6 

= .503 

6 


1.415 

7 

= .756 

7 

-. 1.523 

7 

= 

6.307 

7 

= .587 

7 

= 

1.650 

8 

= .864 

8 

1.741 

8 


7.207 

8 

= .671 

8 

.= 

1.886 

9 

= .972 

9 

= 1.959 

9 

= 

8.108 

9 

= .755 

9 

= 

2.122 

9.263 

= 1 

4.595 

= 1 

1.110 

_ 

1 

11.923 

= 1 

4.241 


1 

18.526 

= 2 

9.190 

— 2 

2.220 

= 

2 

23. 847 

= 2 

8 . 483 

!- 

Q 

hd 

27.789 

= 3 

13.785 

= 3 

3.330 

= 

3 

35.770 

= 3 

12.724 

= 

3 

37.052 

= 4 

18. 380 

-= 4 

4.440 

= 

4 

47.693 

= 4 

16.965 

= 

4 

46.316 

= 5 

22.975 

= 5 

5.550 

— 

5 

59. 616 

= 5 

21.207 

— 

5 

55.579 

= 6 

27.570 

= 6 

6.660 

= 

6 

71. 540 

= 6 

25.448 


6 

64.842 

= 7 

32.165 

= 4 

7. 770 

= 

7 

83. 463 

= 7 

29. 689 


7 

74.105 

= 8 

36. 760 

= 8 

8.880 

= 

8 

95.386 

= 8 

33.931 

— 

8 

83.368 

= 9 

41.355 

= 9 

9.990 

== 

9 

107.310 

= 9 

38.172 

= 

9 































MEASURES COMPARED 


533 


Comparison of meters to feet and feet to meters. 

FROM 1 TO 100 UNITS. 


Feet. 

Meters. 

Feet. 

Meters. 

Meters. 

Feet. 

Meters. 

Feet. 

0 


50 

15.24003 

0 


50 

164.04167 

1 

.30480 

1 

15.54483 

1 

3.28083 

i 

167.32250 

2 

. 60960 

2 

15.84963 

2 

6.56167 

. 2 

170.60333 

3 

.91440 

3 

16.15443 

3 

9.84250 

3 

173.88417 

4 

1.21920 

4 

16.45923 

4 

13.12333 

4 

177.16500 

5 

1.52400 

5 

16.76403 

5 

16.40417 

5 

180.44583 

6 

1.82880 

6 

17.06883 

6 

19.68500 

6 

183. 72667 

7 

2.13360 

7 

17.37363 

7 

22.96583 

7 

187. 00750 

8 

2.43840 

8 

17.67844 

8 

26.24667 

8 

190.28833 

9 

2.74321 

9 

17.98324 

9 

29.52750 

9 

193.56917 

10 

3. 04801 

60 

18.28804 

10 

32.80833 

60 

196.85000 

1 

3.35281 

1 

18.59284 

1 

36.08917 

1 

200.13083 

2 

3.65761 

2 

18.89764 

2 

39.37000 

2 

203.41167 

3 

3.96241 

3 

19.20244 

3 

42.65083 

3 

206.69250 

4 

4 26721 

4 

19. 50724 

4 

45.93167 

4 

209.97333 

5 

4.57201 

5 

19.81204 

5 

49.21250 

5 

213.25417 

6 

4.87681 

6 

20.11684 

6 

52.49333 

6 

216.53500 

7 

5.18161 

7 

20.42164 

7 

55.77417 

7 

219.81583 

8 

5.48641 

8 

20.72644 

8 

59.05500 

8 

223.09667 

9 

5.79121 

9 

21.03124 

9 

62.33583 

9 

226.37750 

20 

6.09601 

70 

21.33604 

20 

65.61667 

70 

229.65833 

1 

6.40081 

1 

21.64084 

1 

68. 89750 

1 

232.93917 

2 

6. 70561 

2 

21.94564 

2 

72.17833 

2 

236.22000 

3 

7.01041 

3 

22.25044 

3 

75.45917 

3 

239.50083 

4 

7.31521 

4 

22.55525 

4 

78.74000 

4 

242:78167 

5 

7.62002 

5 

22.86005 

5 

82.02083 

5 

246.062.50 

6 

7.92482 

6 

23.16485 

6 

85.30167 

6 

249.34333 

7 

8.22962 

7 

23.46965 

7 

88.58250 

7 

252.62417 

8 

8.53442 

8 

23.77445 

8 

91.86333 

8 

255.90500 

9 

8.83-922 

9 

24.07925 

9 

95.14417 

9 

259.18583 

80 

9.14402 

SO 

24.38405 

30 

98.42500 

80 

262.46667 

1 

9.44882 

l 

24.68885 

1 

101.70583 

1 

265.74750 

2 

9. 75362 

2 

24.99365 

2 

104.98667 

2 

269.02833 

3 

10.05842 

3 

25.29845 

3 

108.26750 

3 

272.30917 

4 

10.36322 

4 

25.60325 

4 

111.54833 

4 

275.59000 

5 

10.66802 

5 

25.90805 

5 

114.82917 

5 

278.87083 

6 

10.97282 

6 

26. 21285 

6 

118.11000 

6 

282.15167 

7 

11.27762 

7 

26.51765 

7 

121.39083 

7 

285.43250 

8 

11.58242 

8 

26.82245 

8 

124.67167 

8 

288.71333 

9 

11.88722 

9 

27.12725 

9 

127.95250 

9 

291.99417 

40 

12.19202 

00 

27.43205 

40 

131.23333 

90 

295.27500 

1 

12.49682 

1 

27.73686 

1 

134.51417 

1 

298.55583 

2 

12.80163 

2 

28.04166 

2 

137. 79500 

2 

301.83667 

3 

13.10643 

3 

28.34646 

3 

141.07583 

3 

305.11750 

4 

13.41123 

4 

28. 65126 

4 

144.35667 

4 

308.39833 

5 

13.71603 

5 

28. 95606 

5 

147.63750 

5 

311.67917 

6 

14.02083 

6 

29.26086 

6 

150.91833 

6 

314.96000 

7 

14.32563 

7 

29.56566 

7 

154.19917 

7 

318.240S3 

8 

14.63043 

8 

29.87046 

8 

157.48000 

8 

321.52167 

9 

14.93523 

9 

30.17526 

9 

160.76083 

9 

324.80250 



100 

30.48006 



100 

328.08333 





















534 


VENEZUELA 


Miles to kilometers and kilometers to miles. 

FROM 1 TO 100 UNITS. 


Miles. 

Kilo¬ 

meters. 

Kilo- Miles 
meters. 

Kilo- Miles 

meters. MUes ‘ 

Miles. 

Kilo¬ 

meters. 

0 

V 

> 

50 

31.06850 

0 


50 

80. 4674 

1 

1.C093 

1 

31.68987 

1 

.62137 

1 

82. 0767 

2 

3.2187 

2 

32.31124 

2 

1.24274 

2 

83. 6861 

3 

4.8280 

3 

32.93261 

3 

1.86411 

3 

85.2954 

4 

6 .4374 

4 

33.55398 

4 

2.48548 

4 

86.9047 

5 

8 . 0467 

5 

34.17535 

5 

3.10685 

5 

88 . 5141 

6 

9.6561 

6 

34. 79672 

6 

3.72822 

6 

90.1234 

7 

11.2654 

7 

35.41809 

7 

4.34959 

7 

91.7328 

8 

12.8748 

8 

36.03946 

8 

4.97096 

8 

93. 3421 

9 

14.4841 

9 

36.66083 

9 

5.59233 

9 

94.9515 

10 

16. 0935 

60 

37.28220 

10 

6.21370 

60 

96.5608 

1 

17. 7028 

1 

37. 90357 

1 

6.83507 

1 

98.1702 

2 

19.3122 

2 

38.52494 

2 

7.45644 

2 

99.7795 

3 

20. 9215 

3 

39.14631 

3 

8.07781 

3 

101.3889 

4 

22.5309 

4 

39. 76768 

4 

8.69918 

4 

102.9982 

5 

24.1402 

5 

40.38905 

5 

9.32055 

5 

104.6076 

6 

25.7496 

6 

41. 01042 

6 

9.94192 

6 

106.2169 

7 

27.3589 

7 

41.63179 

7 

10.56329 

7 

107.8263 

8 

28.9682 

8 

42.25316 

8 

11.18466 

8 

109. 4356 

9 

30.5776 

9 

42.87453 

9 

11.80603 

9 

111.0450 

♦20 

32.1869 

70 

43.49590 

20 

12.42740 

70 

112.6543 

1 

33.7963 

1 

44.11727 

1 

13.04877 

1 

114.2637 

2 

35.4056 

2 

44.73864 

2 

13.67014 

2 

115. 8730 

3 

37.0150 

3 

45.36001 

3 

14.29151 

3 

117.4823 

4 

38.6243 

4 

45.98138 

4 

14.91288 

4 

119.0917 

5 

40.2337 

5 

46. 60275 

5 

15.53425 

5 

120. 7010 

6 

41.8430 

6 

47.22412 

6 

16.15562 

6 

122.3104 

7 

43.4524 

7 

47.84549 

7 

16.77699 

7 

123.9197 

8 

45.0617 

8 

48.46686 

8 

17. 39836 

8 

125.5291 

9 

46.6711 

9 

49. 08823 

9 

18.01973 

9 

127.1384 

30 

48.2804 

80 

49. 70960 

30 

18.64110 

80 

128.7478 

1 

49. 8898 

1 

50.33097 

1 

19.26247 

1 

130. 3571 

2 

51.4991 

2 

50.95234 

2 

19.88384 

2 

131.9665 

3 

53.1085 

3 

51. 57371 

3 

20.50521 

3 

133.5758 

4 

54.7178 

4 

52.19508 

4 

21.12658 

4 

135.1852 

5 

56.3272 

5 

52.81645 

5 

21.74795 

5 

136.7945 

6 

57. 9365 

6 

53.43782 

6 

22.36932 

6 

138.4039 

7 

59.5458 

7 

54.05919 

7 

22.99069 

7 

140. 0132 

8 

61.1552 

8 

54.68056 

8 

23.61206 

8 

141.6226 

9 

62.7645 

9 

55.30193 

9 

24.23343 

9 

143.2319 

40 

64.3739 

90 

55.92330 

40 

24.85480 

00 

144.8412 

1 

65.9832 

1 

56.54467 

1 

25.47617 

1 

146.4506 

2 

67.5926 

2 

57.16604 

2 

26. 09754 

2 

148.0599 

3 

69.2019 

3 

57. 78741 

3 

26.71891 

3 

149. 6693 

4 

70.8113 

4 

58.40878 

4 

27.34028 

4 

151.2786 

5 

72.4206 

5 

59.03015 

5 

27.96165 

5 

152. 8880 

6 

74.0300 

6 

59. 65152 

6 

28.58302 

6 

154.4973 

7 

75. 6393 

7 

60. 27289 

7 

29.20439 

7 

156.1067 • 

8 

77.2487 

8 

60.89426 

8 

29.82576 

8 

157. 7160 

9 

78.8580 

9 

61.51562 

9 

30. 44713 

9 

159. 3254 



100 

62.13699 



100 

160.9347 

















Handbook of Venezuela. 



YELLOW HOUSE (NORTHEAST CORNER), CARACAS. 

(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 
























































MEASURES COMPARED 


535 


Acres. 


0 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 


10 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 


20 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 


30 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 


40 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 


Acres to hectares and hectares to acres . 

FROM 1 TO 100 UNITS. 


Hectares. 

Acres. 

Hectares. 

Hectares. Acres. 

Hectares. Acres. 


50 

20.23436 

0 


50 

123.55220 

0.40469 

1 

20.63905 

1 

2.47104 

1 

126.02324 

0.80937 

2 

21.04374 

2 

4.94209 

2 

128.49428 

1.21406 

3 

21.44842 

3 

7.41313 

3 

130. 96533 

1.61875 

4 

21. 85311 

4 

9.88418 

4 

133.43637 

2.02344 

5 

22.25780 

5 

12.35522 

5 

135.90742 

2.42812 

6 

22.66249 

6 

14.82626 

6 

138.37846 

2.83281 

7 

23.06717 

7 

17.29731 

7 

140.84950 

3.23750 

8 

23.47186 

8 

19.76835 

8 

143.32055 

3.64219 

9 

23.87655 

9 

22.23940 

9 

145.79159 

4.04687 

60 

24.28124 

10 

24.71044 

60 

148.26264 

4.45156 

1 

24. 68592 

1 

27.18148 

1 

150.73368 

4.85625 

2 

25. 09061 

2 

29.65253 

2 

153.20472 

5.26093 

3 

25. 49530 

3 

32.12357 

3 

155.67577 

5.66562 

4 

25.89998 

4 

34.59462 

4 

158.14681 

6.07031 

5 

26.30467 

5 

37.06566 

5 

160.61786 

6.47500 

6 

26.70936 

6 

39.53670 

6 

163.08890 

6.87968 

7 

27.11405 

7 

42.00775 

7 

165.55994 

7.28437 

8 

27.51873 

8 

44.47879 

8 

168.03099 

7.68906 

9 

27. 92342 

9 

46.94983 

9 

170.50203 

8.09375 

70 

28.32811 

20 

49.42088 

70 

172.97308 

8.49843 

1 

28.73280 

1 

51.89192 

1 

175.44412 

8 . 90312 

2 

29.13748 

2 

54.36297 

2 

177.91516 

9.30781 

3 

29.54217 

3 

56.83401 

3 

180.38621 

9.71249 

4 

29.94686 

4 

59.30505 

4 

182. 85725 

10.11718 

5 

30.35154 

5 

61.77610 

5 

185.32829 

10.52187 

6 

30.75623 

6 

64.24714 

6 

187. 79934 

10.92656 

7 

31.16092 

7 

66.71819 

7 

190.27038 

11.33124 

8 

31.56561 

8 

69.18923 

8 

192.74143 

11.73593 

9 

31.97029 

9 

71.66027 

9 

195.21247 

12.14062 

80 

32.37498 

30 

74.13132 

SO 

197.68351 

12. 54531 

1 

32.77967 

1 

76.60236 

1 

200.15456 

12.94999 

2 

33.18436 

2 

79.07341 

2 

202.62560 

13.35468 

3 

33.58904 

3 

81.54445 

3 

205.09665 

13.75937 

4 

33.99373 

4 

84.01549 

4 

207.56769 

14.16405 

5 

34.39842 

5 

86.48654 

5 

210.03873 

14.56874 

6 

34.80310 

6 

88.95758 

6 

212.50978 

14.97343 

7 

35.20779 

7 

91.42863 

7 

214.98082 

15.37812 

8 

35.61248 

8 

93.89967 

8 

217.45187 

15.78280 

9 

36.01717 

9 

96.37071 

9 

219.92291 

16.18749 

90 

36.42185 

40 

98.84176 

90 

222.39395 

16.59218 

1 

36.82654 

1 

101.31280 

1 

224.86500 

16.99686 

2 

37.23123 

2 

103.78385 

2 

227.33604 

17.40155 

3 

37. 63592 

3 

106.25489 

3 

229.80709 

17.80624 

4 

38.04060 

4 

108.72593 

4 

232.27813 

18.21093 

5 

38.44529 

5 

111.19698 

5 

234.74917 

18.61561 

6 

38.84998 

6 

113.66802 

6 

237.22022 

19.02030 

7 

39.25466 

7 

116.13906 

7 

239.69126 

19.42499 

8 

39.65935 

8 

118.61011 

8 

242.16231 

19 82968 

9 

40.06404 

9 

121.08115 

9 

244.63335 


100 

40.46873 



100 

247.10439 



















536 


VENEZUELA 


Liters to liquid quarts and liquid quarts to liters. 

FROM 1 TO 100 UNITS. 


Liters. 

Quarts. 

Liters. Quarts. 

Quarts. Liters. 

Quarts. 

Liters. 

0 


50 

52.83409 

0 


50 

47.31793 

1 

1.05668 

1 

53.89077 

1 

.94636 

1 

48. 26429 

2 

2.11336 

2 

54.94746 

2 

1.89272 

2 

49.21065 

3 

3.17005 

3 

56.00414 

3 

2.83908 

3 

50.15701 

4 

4.22673 

4 

57.06082 

4 

3.78543 

4 

51.10337 

5 

5.28341 

5 

58.11750 

5 

4.73179 

5 

52.04972 

6 

6.34009 

6 

59.17418 

6 

5.67815 

6 

52. 99608 

, 7 

7.39677 

7 

60.23086 

7 

6.62451 

7 

53.94244 

8 

8 .45345 

8 

61.28755 

8 

7.57087 

8 

54. 88880 

9 

9.51014 

9 

62.34423 

9 

8.51723 

9 

55.83516 

10 

10.56682 

<50 

63.40091 

10 

9.46359 

60 

56. 78152 

1 

11.62350 

1 

64.45759 

1 

10.40994 

1 

57. 72788 

2 

12.68018 

2 

65.51428 

2 

11. 35630 

2 

58.67423 

3 

13.73686 

3 

66 . 57096 

3 

12.30266 

3 

59. 62059 

4 

14.79355 

4 

67.62764 

4 

13.24902 

4 

60. 56695 

5 

15.85023 

5 

68 . 68432 

5 

14.19538 

5 

61.51331 

6 

16. 90691 

6 

69.74100 

6 

15.14174 

6 

62. 45967 

7 

17.96359 

7 

70. 79768 

7 

16.08810 

7 

63.40603 

8 

19.02027 

8 

71.85437 

8 

17.03446 

8 

64.35239 

9 

20.07696 

9 

72.91105 

9 

17. 98081 

9 

65.29875 

20 

21.13364 

70 

73.96773 

20 

18.92717 

70 

66 . 24510 

1 

22.19032 

1 

75.02441 

1 

19.87353 

1 

67.19146 

2 

23.24700 

2 

76.08109 

2 

20.81989 

2 

68.13782 

3 

24.30368 

3 

77.13778 

3 

21.76625 

3 

69.08418 

4 

25.36036 

4 

78.19446 

4 

22.71261 

4 

70. 03054 

5 

26.41705 

5 

79.25114 

5 

23.65897 

5 

70. 97690 

6 

27.47373 

6 

80.30782 

6 

24.60532 

6 

71.92326 

7 

28.53041 

7 

81.36450 

7 

25.55168 

7 

72.86961 

8 

29.58709 

8 

82.42119 

8 

26.49804 

8 

73.81597 

9 

30.64377 

9 

83. 47787 

9 

27.44440 

9 

74.76233 

30 

31.70046 

80 

84.53455 

30 

28.39076 

SO 

75. 70869 

1 

32.75714 

1 

85.59123 

1 

29.33712 

1 

76.65505 

2 

33.81382 

2 

86.64791 

2 

30.28348 

2 

77. 60141 

3 

34. 87050 

3 

87. 70459 

3 

31.22983 

3 

78.54777 

4 

35.92718 

4 

88.76128 

4 

32.17619 

4 

79.49412 

5 

36. 98387 

5 

89.81796 

5 

33.12255 

5 

80.44048 

6 

38.04055 

6 

90.87464 

6 

34.06891 

6 

81.38684 

7 

39.09723 

7 

91.93132 

7 

35.01527 

7 

82. 33320 

8 

40.15391 

8 

92. 98800 

8 

35.96163 

8 

83.27956 

9 

41.21059 

9 

94.04469 

9 

36.90799 

9 

84.22592 

40 

42.26727 

90 

95.10137 

40 

37.85436 

00 

85.17228 

1 

43.32396 

1 

96.15805 

1 

38.80070 

1 

86.11863 

2 

44.38064 

2 

97.21473 

2 

39. 74706 

2 

87.06499 

3 

45.43732 

3 

98.27141 

3 

40. 69342 

3 

<88.01135 

4 

46.49400 

4 

99. 32809 

4 

41.63978 

4 

88.95771 

5 

47. 55068 

5 

100.38478 

5 

42.58614 

5 

89. 90407 

6 

48. 60737 

6 

101. 44146 

6 

43. 53250 

6 

90. 85043 

7 

49.66^05 

7 

102.49814 

7 

44. 47886 

7 

91.79679 

8 

50.72073 

8 

103.55482 

8 

45.42521 

8 

92.74315 

9 

51. 77741 

9 

104.61150 

9 

46.37157 

9 

93. 68950 



100 

105.66819 



100 

94.63586 




















MEASURES COMPARED 


537 


Liters to gallons and gallons to liters. 

FROM 1 TO 100 UNITS. 


Liters. Gallons. 

Liters. Gallons. 

0 

50 13.20852 

1 .26417 

1 13.47269 

2 .52834 

2 13.73686 

3 .79251 

3 14.00103 

4 1.05668 

4 14.26521 

5 1.32085 

5 14.52938 

6 1.58502 

6 14.79355 

7 1.84919 

7 15.05772 

8 2.11336 

8 15.32189 

9 2.37753 

9 15.58606 

10 2.64170 

60 15.85023 

1 2.90588 

1 16.11440 

2 3.17005 

2 16.37857 

3 3.43422 

3 16.64274 

4 3.69839 

4 16.90691 

5 3.96256 

5 17.17108 

6 4.22673 

6 17.43525 

7 4.49090 

7 17.69942 

8 4.75507 

8 17.96359 

9 5.01924 

9 18.22776 

20 5.28341 

70 18.49193 

1 5.54758 

1 18.75610 

2 5.81175 

2 19.02027 

3 6.07592 

3 19.28444 

4 6.34009 

4 19.54861 

5 6.60426 

5 19.81279 

6 6.86843 

6 20.07696 

7 7.13260 

7 20.34113 

8 7.39677 

8 20.60530 

9 7.66094 

9 20.86947 

30 7.92511 

80 21.13364 

1 8.18928 

1 21.39781 

2 8.45345 

2 21.66198 

3 8.71763 

3 21.92615 

4 8.98180 

4 22.19032 

5 9.24597 

5 22.45449 

6 9.51014 

6 22.71866 

7 9.77431 

7 22.98283 

8 10.03848 

8 23.24700 

9 10.30265 

9 23.51117 

40 10.56682 

00 23.77534 

1 10.83099 

1 24.03951 

2 11.09516 

2 24.30368 

3 11.35933 

3 24.56785 

4 11.62350 

4 24.83202 

5 11.88767 

5 25.09619 

6 12.15184 

6 25.36036 

7 12.41601 

7 25.62454 

8 1268018 

8 25.88871 

9 12.94435 

9 26.15288 


100 26.41705 


Gallons. 

Liters. 

Gallons. 

Liters. 

0 


50 

189.2717 

1 

3.7854 

1 

193.0572 

2 

7.5709 

2 

196.8426 

3 

11.3563 

3 

200.6280 

4 

15.1417 

4 

204.4135 

5 

18. 9272 

5 

208.1989 

6 

22.7126 

6 

211.9843 

7 

26.4980 

7 

215. 7698 

8 

30.2835 

8 

219.5552 

9 

34.0689 

9 

223.3406 

10 

37.8543 

60 

227.1261 

1 

41. 6398 

1 

230.9115 

2 

45.4252 

2 

234.6969 

3 

49.2106 

3 

238.4824 

4 

52.9961 

4 

242.2678 

5 

56. 7815 

5 

246.0532 

6 

60.5670 

6 

249. 8387 

7 

64.3524 

7 

253. 6241 

8 

68.1378 

8 

257.4095 

9 

71.9233 

9 

261.1950 

*20 

75.7087 

70 

264.9804 

1 

79.4941 

1 

268. 7658 

2 

83.2796 

2 

272.5513 

3 

87.0650 

3 

276.3367 

4 

90.8504 

4 

280.1222 

5 

94. 6359 

5 

283.9076 

6 

98.4213 

6 

287.6930 

7 

102.2067 

7 

291.4785 

8 

105.9922 

8 

295.2639 

9 

109. 7776 

9 

299.0493 

30 

113.5630 

80 

302.8348 

1 

117.3485 

1 

306.6202 

2 

121.1339 

2 

310.4056 

3 

124.9193 

3 

314.1911 

4 

128.7048 

4 

317.9765 

5 

132.4902 

5 

321.7619 

6 

136.2756 

6 

325. 5474 

7 

140.0611 

7 

329. 3328 

8 

143.8465 

8 

333.1182 

9 

147.6319 

9 

336.9037 

40 

151.4174 

90 

340.6891 

1 

155.2028 

1 

344 4745 

2 

158.9882 

2 

348.2600 

3 

162. 7737 

3 

352.0454 

4 

166.5591 

4 

355.8308 

5 

170.3446 

5 

359.6163 

6 

174.1300 

6 

363.4017 

7 

177.9154 

7 

367.1871 

8 

181.7009 

8 

370.9726 

9 

185. 4863 

9 

374.7580 



100 

378.5434 
















538 


VENEZUELA 


Kilograms to avoirdupois pounds and avoirdupois pounds to kilograms. 

FROM 1 TO 100 UNITS. 


* 


Kilos. Pounds. 


0 

1 2.2046 

2 4.4092 

3 6.6139 

4 8.8185 

5 11.0231 

6 13.2277 

7 15.4324 

8 17.6370 

9 19.8416 


10 22.0462 

1 24.2508 

2 26.4555 

3 28.6601 

4 30.8647 

5 33.0693 

6 35.2740 

7 37.4786 

8 39.6832 

9 41.8878 


20 44.0924 

1 46.2971 

2 48.5017 

3 50.7063 

4 52.9109 

5 55.1156 

6 57.3202 

7 59.5248 

8 61.7294 

9 63.9340 


30 66.1387 

1 68.3433 

2 70.5479 

3 72.7525 

4 74.9572 

5 77.1618 

6 79.3664 

7 81.5710 

8 83.7756 

9 85.9803 


40 88.1849 

1 90.3895 

2 92.5941 

3 94.7988 

4 97.0034 

5 99.2080 

6 101.4126 

7 103.6172 

8 105.8219 

9 108.0265 


Kilos. Pounds. 


50 110.2311 

1 112.4357 

2 114.6404 

3 116.8450 

4 119.0496 

5 121.2542 

6 123.4589 

7 125.6635 

8 127.8681 

9 130.0727 


00 132.2773 

1 134.4820 

2 136.6866 

3 138.8912 

4 141.0958 

5 143.3005 

6 145.5051 

7 147.7097 

8 149.9143 

9 152.1189 


70 154.3236 

1 156.5282 

2 158.7328 

3 160.9374 

4 163.1421 

5 165.3467 

6 167.5513 

7 169.7559 

8 171.9605 

9 174.1652 


80 176.3698 

1 178.5744 

2 180.7790 

3 182.9837 

4 185.1883 

5 187.3929 

6 189.5975 

7 191.8021 

8 194.0068 

9 196.2011 


90 198.4160 
1 200.6206 

2 202.8253 

3 205.0299 

4 207.2345 

5 209.4391 

6 211.6437 

7 213.8484 

8 216.0530 

9 218.2576 
100 220.4622 


Pounds. Kilos. 


0 

1 .45359 

2 .90718 

3 1.36078 

4 1.81437 

5 2.26796 

6 2.72155 

7 3.17515 

8 3.62874 

9 4.08233 


10 4.53592 

1 4.98952 

2 5.44311 

3 5.89670 

4 6.35029 

5 6.80389 

6 7.25748 

7 7.71107 

8 8.16466 

9 8.61826 


20 9.07185 

1 9.52544 

2 9.97903 

3 10.43263 

4 10.88622 

5 11.33981 

6 11.79340 

7 12.24700 

8 12.70059 

9 13.15418 


30 13.60777 

1 14.06137 

2 14.51496 

3 14.96855 

4 15.42214 

5 15.87573 

6 16.32933 

7 16.78292 

8 17.23651 

9 17.69010 


40 18.14370 

1 18.59729 

2 19.05088 

3 19.50447 

4 19.95807 

5 20.41166 

6 20.86525 

7 21.31884 

8 21.77244 

9 22.22603 


Pounds. Kilos. 


50 22.67962 

1 23.13321 

2 23.58681 

3 24.04040 

4 24.49399 

5 24.94758 

6 25.40118 

7 25.85477 

8 26.30836 

9 26.76195 


00 27.21555 

1 27.66914 

2 28.12273 

3 28.57632 

4 29.02992 

5 29.48351 

6 29.93710 

7 30.39069 

8 30.84429 

9 31.29788 


70 31.75147 

1 32.20506 

2 32.65865 

3 33.11225 

4 33.56584 

5 34.01943 

6 34.47302 

7 34.92662 

8 35.38021 

9 35.83380 


SO 36.28739 

1 36.74099 

2 37.19458 

3 37.64817 

4 38.10176 

5 38.55536 

6 39.00895 

7 39.46254 

8 39.91613 

9 40.36973 


90 40.82332 

1 41.27691 

2 41.73050 

3 42.18410 

4 42.63769 

5 43.09128 

6 43.54487 

7 43.99847 

8 44.45206 

9 44.90565 
100 45.35924 

















WEIGHTS COMPARED 


539 


Comparison of the various tons and pounds in use in the United States. 

FROM 1 TO 10 UNITS. 


Long tons. 

Short tons. 

Metric tons. 

.00036735 

. 00041143 

.00037324 

.00044643 

. 00050000 

.00045359 

.00073469 

. 00082286 

.00074648 

.00089286 

. 00100000 

.00090718 

.00098421 

.00110231 

.00100000 

.00110204 

.00123429 

.00111973 

.00133929 

.00150000 

.00136078 

.00146939 

.00164571 

.00149297 

.00178571 

. 00200000 

.00181437 

.00183673 

. 00205714 

.00186621 

.00196841 

.00220462 

.00200000 

.00220408 

. 00246857 

.00223945 

.00223214 

.00250000 

.00226796 

.00257143 

.00288000 

.00261269 

.00267857 

.00300000 

.00272155 

.00293878 

.00329143 

.00298593 

.00295262 

. 00330693 

. 00300000 

.00312500 

. 00350000 

. 00317515 

.00330612 

. 00370286 

.00335918 

.00357143 

.00400000 

. 00362874 

. 00393683 

.00440924 

. 00400000 

. 00401786 

.00450000 

. 00408233 

. 00492103 

. 00551156 

. 00500000 

.00590524 

.00661387 

. 00600000 

.00688944 

.00771618 

. 00780000 

.00787365 

.00881849 

.00800000 

.00885786 

.00992080 

.00900000 

.89287 

1 

.90718 

.98421 

1.10231 

1 

1 

1.12000 

1.01605 

1.78571 

2 

1.81437 

1.96841 

2.20462 

2 

2 

2.24000 

2.03209 

2.67857 

3 

2.72155 

2.95262 

3.30693 

3 

3 

3.36000 

3.04814 

3.57143 

4 

3.62874 

3. 93683 

4.40924 

4 

4 

4.48000 

4.06419 

4.46429 

5 

4.53592 

4.92103 

5.51156 

5 

5 

5. 60000 

5.08024 

5.35714 

6 

5.44311 

5.90524 

6. 61387 

6 

6 

6. 72000 

6. 09628 

6.25000 

n 

i 

6. 35029 

' 6.88944 

7.71618 

7 

7 

7.84000 

7.11232 

7.14286 

8 

7. 25748 

7.87365 

8.81849 

S 

8 

8.96000 

8.12838 

8. 03571 

9 

8.16466 

8.85786 

0. 92080 

9 

9 

10.08000 

9.14442 


Kilograms. 

Avoirdupois 

pounds. 

Troy pounds. 

.37324 

. 822857 

1 

.45359 

1 

1.21528 

.74648 

1.64571 

2 

.90718 

*2 

2.43056 

1 

2.20462 

2.67923 

1.11973 

2.46857 

3 

1.36078 

3 

3. 64583 

1.49297 

3.29143 

4 

1.81437 

4 

4.86111 

1.86621 

4.11429 

5 

2 

4.40924 

5.35846 

2.23945 

4.93714 

6 

2.26796 

5 

6.07639 

2.61269 

5. 76000 

7 

2.72155 

6 

7.29167 

2.98593 

6.58286 

8 

3 

6. 61387 

8. 03769 

3.17515 

7 

8.50694 

3. 35918 

7.40571 

9 

3. 62874 

8 

9.72222 

4 

8.81849 

10.7-1691 

4.08233 

9 

10.93750 

5 

11.0231 

13.39614 

6 

13.2277 

16.07537 

7 

15.4324 

18.75460 

8 

17.6370 

21.43383 

9 

19.8416 

24.11306 

907.18 

2,000. 00 

2,430. 56 

1,000.00 

2,204. 62 

2,679.23 

1,016.05 

2,240. 00 

2,722.22 

1,814.37 

4,000.00 

4,861.11 

2, 000.00 

4,409.24 

5,358.46 

2,032.09 

4,480.00 

5, 444. 44 

2; 721.55 

6,000.00 

7,291.67 

3,000.00 

6,613. 87 

8,037. 69 

3,048.14 

6, 720. 00 

8,166.67 

3,628. 74 

8,000.00 

9,722.22 

4,000.00 

8,818.49 

10, 716. 91 

4,064.19 

8,960.00 

10,888. 89 

4,535.92 

10,000.00 

12,152. 78 

5, 000.00 

11,023.11 

13,396.14 

5,080.24 

11,200.00 

13,611.11 

5,443.11 

12,000.00 

14,583.33 

6,000.00 

13,227.73 

16,075.37 

6,096.28 

13,440.00 

16,333. 33 

6,350.2y 

14,000. 00 

17,013. 89 

7,000. 00 

15, 432.36 

18, 754. 60 

?; 112. 32 

15,680.00 

19,055.56 

7,257. 48 

16,000.00 

19,4*4.44 

8,000.00 

17,636.98 

21,433.83 

8,128.38 

17,920.00 

21,777. 78 

8,164. 66 

18,000.00 

21,875.00 

9,000. 00 

19,841.60 

24,113. 06 

9 ; 144.42 

20,160.00 

24,500.00 







































INDEX TO CHAPTER XIV. 


Principal patent regulations.. 

Promulgation of law.. 

Requirements of law.. 

Application for patents.. 

Term of issue. 

Patent tax.. 

Exemption from tax. 

Foreign patents.. 

Deposit of models. 

Patent law (full text).. 

Principal trade-mark regulations_ 

Promulgation of law.. 

Requirements of law.. 

Applications for trade-marks_ 

Registration of trade-marks. 

Rejection of applications. 

Term of issue. 

Renewal of term. 

Penalties for false representations 
Foreign trade-marks registered... 

Trade-mark law (full text).. 

Principal copyright provisions.T. 

Copyright law (full text).. 

Army: 

Military service compulsory. 

Organization of the army. 

Reserve army. 

Active army.. 

Forces. 

Units..-. 

Infantry battalions. 

Artillery batteries. 

Cavalry squadrons.. 

Brigades. 

Divisions. 

General staff.. 

Object of the army.. 

Military schools and academies... 

Military instruction board.. 

Military hospital.. 

Military authorities.. 

War and navy budget (table)_ 

540 


Page. 

511 

511 

511 

511 

511 

512 
512 
512 

512 

513 
515 
515 
515 
515 
515 

515 

516 
516 
516 
516 
516 
519 
519 

524 

525 
525 
525 
525 
525 
525 
525 
525 
525 
525 
525 

525 

526 
526 
526 
526 
526 












































INDEX TO CHAPTER XIV. 541 

Navy: p age . 

Organization. 526 

Naval service compulsory. 526 

Naval forces. 526 

Object of the navy..*. 527 

Naval rank. 527 

Naval schools. 527 

Venezuelan navy. 527 

Revenue cutters. 527 

Regulations to prevent collisions at sea. 527 

Foreign men-of-war. 527 

Metric system. 527 

Metric and other weights and measures. ; . 528 

Table of equivalents (from 1 to 10 units). 528 

Millimeters and decimal and common fractions of an inch. 528 

Lengths, areas, volumes. 529 

Capacities and masses. 530 

Comparison of prices (French, German, British, and United States). 532 

Tables of equivalents (from 1 to 100 units).?. 533 

Feet to meters, meters to feet. 533 

Miles to kilometers, and kilometers to miles. 534 

Areas. 535 

Acres to hectares and hectares to acres. 535 

Capacities. 536 

Liquid quarts to liters and liters to liquid quarts. 536 

Gallons to liters and liters to gallons. 537 

Masses. 538 

Avoirdupois pounds to kilograms and kilograms to avoirdupois pounds .. 538 

Sj)ecial comparison of the various tons and pounds used in the United States . 539 








































. 
































































CHAPTER XV. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY, CARTOGRAPHY—THE PRESS. 

REFERENCE LIST OF BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS ON VENEZUELA. 

GENERAL REFERENCE. 

Almanach de Gotha. (Annual.) 

Appleton’s annual cyclopedia and register of important events. New York, Apple- 
ton & Co. 

Century dictionary and encyclopedia. New York, Century Co. 

Encyclopedia Britannica. London, A. & C. Black; New York, Encyclopedia Britan- 
nica Co. 

Larned, J. N.: History of ready reference. Springfield, Mass., C. A. Nichols. 
Statesman’s yearbook. (Annual.) 

OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. 

Annual reports of the Ministers of State to the National Congress. 

Messages of the President of the Republic to the National Congress. 

Codigos de Venezuela. (Published separately.) 

Recopilacion de leyes y decretos de Venezuela. 

Venezuela. Ministerio de relaciones exteriores: World’s Columbian exposition at 
Chicago. The United States of Venezuela in 1893. New York, published by 
order of the Government of Venezuela. (1893.) 149 p. Map. 8°. 

Commercial statistics. 

Statistical reports of the Ministerio de Fomento of Venezuela. Direction general de 
estadfstica. (Estadfstica mercantil de Venezuela y Anuario Estadfstico.) 
Bulletins of the International Bureau of the American Republics. Washington. 
Commercial relations of the United States. Department of Commerce and Labor. 
Washington. 

United States consular reports. Department of Commerce and Labor. Washington. 
Bulletins of the United States Bureau of Statistics. Department of Commerce and 
Labor. Washington. 

British diplomatic and consular reports. London, foreign office. 

Reports of the council of the corporation of foreign bondholders. London. 
(Annual.) 

NONOFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. 

Appun, Karl Ferdinand: . . . Reis door Venezuela. Voor Nederland bewerkt door 
J. B. Rietstap . . . Arnhem, J. Voltelen (1872). 270 p. 8°. 

__ Unter den tropen. Wanderungen durch Venezuela, am Orinoco, durch 

Britisch Guyana und am Amazonenstrome in den jahren 1849-1868, von Carl 
Ferdinand Appun . . . Jena, H, Costenoblo, 1871. 2 v. 8°. v. 1. Venezuela. 

543 



544 


VENEZUELA. 


Baralt, Rafael Maria: Resumen de la historia de Venezuela desde el descubrimiento 
de su territorio por los Castellanos en el siglo xv, hasta el ano de 1797, ordenado 
y compuesto . . . por Rafael Marfa Baralt; hacooperado & 41 en la parte relativa 
it las guerras de la conquista de la costa-firme el Senor Ramon Diaz, el cual le ha 
anadido los ap4ndices . . . Paris, H. Fournier y comp., 1841. 448 p. 8°. 

-Resumen de la historia de Venezuela desde el ano de 1797 hasta el de 1850, 

por Rafael Marfa Baralt y Ramon Dfaz . . . Tiene al fin un breve bosquejo his- 
torico que comprende los anos de 1831 hasta 1837 . . . Paris, Impr. de H. 
Fournier y comp., 1841. 2 v. 8°. 

B4nard, Charles Marie Eugene Pierre: Le Venezuela; etudes physiques, politiques, 
commerciales, minieres et agricoles, par Charles Benard . . . avec une preface 
de Gabriel Desbats . . . Bordeaux, Impr. G. Gounouilhou, 1897. xviii, 106 p. 
Map. 8°. 

Briceno, Mariano de: Memoir justicatory of the government of Venezuela on the 
Isla de Aves question, presented to His Excellency the Secretary of State of the 
United States by the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of 
Venezuela, Doctor Mariano de Briceno. Washington, F. H. Sage, printer, 1858. 

22 p. 8°. 

Campagnes et croisieres dans les etats de Venezuela et de la Nouvelle-Grenade; par 
un officier du ler regiment de lanciers venezueliens. Tr. de l’anglais . . . Paris, 
Salons litteraires, 1837. 2, 412 p. Map. 8°. 

Campaigns and cruises, in Venezuela and New Grenada, and in the Pacific Ocean; 
from 1817 to 1830, with the narrative of a march from the river Orinoco to San 
Buenaventura on the coast of Choco; and sketches of the west coast of South 
America from the Gulf of California to the archipelago of Chiloe. Also, Tales of 
Venezuela, illustrative of revolutionary men, manners, and incidents . . . 
London, Longman & Co., 1831. 3 v. 12°. 

Carvajal, Jacinto de: Relaeion del descubrimiento del rfo Apure hasta su ingreso en 
el Orinoco, por fr. Jacinto de Carvajal . . . copiada del manuscrito autografo 
que se guarda en el archivo municipal de Leon, y por primera vez impresa . . . 
Leon, Diputacion provincial, 1892. vi, 444 p. _Map. 8°. Apuntes biograficos. 
p. 399-426. 

Caulfn, Antonio: Historia coro-graphica natural y evang41ica de la Nueva Andalucia, 
provincias de CumanJ, Guayana y vertientes del rfo Orinoco; dedicada al rei 
N. S. D. Carlos iii por ... A. Caulfn . . . dada £ luz de orden, y a expen 8 , 
de S. M. . . . Colophon: Madrid, J. de San Martim, impresor, 1779. 482, 13 p. 

Map. fol. 

Cazeneuve, Paul de: Les Etats-Unis de V4nezuela par P. de Cazeneuve & Frangois 
Haraine. Paris, Sauvaitre, 1888. xv, 300 pp. Map. 12°. 

Chaffanjon, Jean: . . . L’Orenoque et le Caura; relation de voyages ex4cutes en 
1886 et 1887 . . . Paris, Hachette & cie, 1889. 351 pp., illus. Maps. 12°. 

Chesterton, George Laval: A narrative of proceedings in Venezuela, in South 
America, in the years 1819 and 1820; with general observations on the country 
and people; the character of the republican government, and its leading mem¬ 
bers, etc. Also a description of the country of Caracas; of the force of General 
Morillo; the state of the Royalists; and the spirit of the people under their 
jurisdiction. . . London, printed for J. and A. Arch, 1820. x, 257 pp. nar. 8°. 

Cleveland, Grover: Venezuelan boundary dispute. New York, The Centurv Co., 
190L 2 pts. 16°. 

Codazzi, Giovanni Battista Agostino: Resumen de la geograffa de Venezuela, por 
Augustin Codazzi . . . Paris, Impr. de H. Fournier y comp., 1841. 3,648 pp. 

8°. 

Curtis, William Eleroy: Venezuela. A land wdiere it is always summer. New 
York, Harper & Brothers, 1896, 315 pp. Map. 8°, 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 


545 


Colon, F. Montengro: Apuntes historicos de Venezuela. Caracas, 1837. 

Diaz, Jose Domingo: Recuerdos sobre la rebelion de Caracas. Madrid, Impr. de L. 
Amarita, 1829. 407 pp. 8°. 

Eastwick, Edward Backhouse: Venezuela; or, sketches of life in a South American 
republic; with the history of the loan of 1864. 2d ed. London, Chapman & 
Hall. 1868. viii, 418 pp. Map. 8°. 

Ernst, A.: Les produits de Venezuela. Bremen, 1874. 

Dance, C. D.: Four years in Venezuela. London, 1876. 

Dauxion-Lavaysse, Jean Francois: A statistical, commercial, and political descrip¬ 
tion of Venezuela, Trinidad, Margarita, and Tobago; containing various anec¬ 
dotes and observations, illustrative of the past and present state of these inter¬ 
esting countries; from the French of M. Lavaysse; with an introduction and 
explanatory notes by the editor (Edward Blaquiere) . . . London, G. and 
W. B. Whittaker, 1820. xxxix, 479 pp. Map. 8°. 

Flinter, George Dawson: A history of the revolution of Caracas; comprising an 
impartial narrative of the atrocities committed by the contending parties, illus¬ 
trating the real state of the contest . . . together with a description of the 
* llaneros ... by Major Flinter. London, T. & J. Allman, etc., 1819. xii, 213 


pp. 8°. 

Gilii, Filippo Salvadore: Nachrichten vom lande Guiana, dem Oronocofluss und den 
dortigen wilden. Aus dem italienischen des abbt Philip Salvator Gilii auszugs- 
weise ubersetzt. Hamburg, C. E. Bohn, 1785. xvi, 528 pp. 12°. 

Guzman Blanco, Antonio: Documentos para la historia. Memorandum del general 
Guzmdn Blanco, presidente de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela, dirigidos a 
sus secretarios y ministros siempre que salio a campana en los anos de 1870,1871, 
y 1872. Caracas, Impr. de “La Opinion nacional,” 1875. 327 pp. 4°. 

-Lfmites de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela. (Anon.) Paris, A. Lahure, 

1891. 51 pp. 8°. 

Hippislev, Gustavus: Histoire de Pexpedition aux rivieres Orenoque (t d’Apure dans 
l’Amerique Meridionale, partie d’Angleterre, en novembre 1817, pour se joindre 
aux forces des patriotes dans Venezuela et les Caracas; par le colonel Hippis- 
ley. . . . Tr. del’anglais par M***. Paris, G. C. Hubert, 1819. viii, 164 pp. 8°. 

Hortensio (Gual y Mercader): Literatura venezolana. Re vistas bibliograficas. Cara¬ 
cas, 1883. 2 vols. 

Hippislev, Gustavus: A narrative of the expedition to the rivers Orinoco and Apure, 
in South America, which sailed from England in November, 1817, and joined 
the patriotic forces in Venezuela and Caracas. . . . London, J. Murray, 1819. 
xix, 653 pp. 8°. 

Landaeta Rosales, Manuel: Gran recopilacion geografica, estadfstica y historica de 
Venezuela. Caracas, 1889. 2 vols. 

_Riqueza circulante en Venezuela 6 sea moneda, bancos, e institutes de credito 

en Venezuela, cajas de ahorro, montes de piedad, seguros v metrologfa. Caracas, 
Imprenta Bolivar, 1903. 258 pp. 8°. 

Level, Andres A.: Nomenclator de Venezuela content!vo de su censo en orden alfa- 
betico. Caracas, Impr. de “La Opinion nacional,” 1883. 2 v. 8°. 

Lopez Borreguero, Ramon: Los Indios Caribes. Memorias interesantes de Vene¬ 
zuela. Madrid, T. Fortanet, 1875. 2 v. 8°. 

Morris, Ira Nelson: With the trade winds; a jaunt in Venezuela and the West Indies, 
by Ira Nelson Morris. . . . New York and London, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1897. 

x, 157 pp. 8°. 

Oviedo y Banos, Jose de: Historia de la conquista y poblacion de la provincia de 
Venezuela. . . . Primera parte. Madrid, Impr. de G. Hermosilla, 1723. 

8, 380 pp. fol. 


4 a —04-35 





546 


VENEZUELA. 


Oviedo y Banos, Jose de: Historia de la conquista y poblacion de la provincia de 
Venezuela, eserita por J. de Oviedo y Banos; illustrada eon notas y doeumentos 
por. . . . C. Fernandez Duro. . . . Madrid, L. Navarro, 1885. 2 v. 8°. 

Palacios, Delgado G.: Contribucion al estudio del cafe en Venezuela. Caracas, Tip. 
el Cojo, 1895. 93. 1 pp. 8°. 

Pdez, Jose Antonio: Important documents in relation to the present situation of 
Venezuela. . . . New York, 1848. ix, 27 pp. 8°. 

Paez, Ramon: Travels and adventures in South and Central America. First series: 
Life in the llanos of Venezuela. New York, C. Scribner & co., 1868. xlviii 
(2) 473 pp. ills., pi., map. 12°. 

Pons, Francois Raymond Joseph de: A voyage to the eastern part of Terra Firma, or 
the Spanish Main, in South America, during the years 1801, 1802, 1803, and 
1804. . . . B) r F. Depons. . . . Tr. by an American gentleman. New York, 
I. Riley & co., 1806. 3 v. map. 8°. 

Marcano, Gaspard: Ethnographie precolombienne du Venezuela, vallees d’Aragua 
et de Caracas; par le Dr. G. Marcano. . . . Paris, Typ. A. Hennuyer, 1889. 
2 p. 1., 91 p. illus., 20. p. 11 (inch fold. map). 8°. 

Rojas, Aristides: Estudios indigenas. Contribuciones a la historia antigua de Vene¬ 
zuela por Aristides Rojas. . . . Caracas, Impr. National, 1878. xi, 217 p. 8°. 

-Historia patria. Leyendas historicas de Venezuela, por A. Rojas. 1-2 serie. 

Caracas, Impr. de la Patria (etc.). 1890-91. 2 v. 8°. 

Roncayolo, Mine. L.: Au Venezuela, 1876-1892. Souvenirs. Paris, P. Dupont, 1894. 
208 p. (inch pi.). 12°. 

Sanchez, Silvestre: Geograffa y breve historia de la seceion Zulia desde su descu- 
brimiento, 1499, hasta nuestros dias. . . . Caracas, Impr. de “La Opinion 
nacional,” 1883. 2 p. 1., 305, 6 p. fold, pi., port., map. tab. 8°. 

Sievers, Wilhelm: Venezuela, von Dr. W. Sievers. . . . Mit einer karte tier venezo- 
lanischen, Cordillere, bearbeitet und gezeichnet auf basis tier Sievers’ schen 
forschungen von L. Friederichsen. . . . Hamburg, L. Friederichsen & Co., 
1888. viii, 359 p. fold. map. 8°. 

Tejera, Miguel: Venezuela pintoresca e ilustrada; relaeion historica (desde el descu- 
brimiento de la America hasta 1870). Geografica, estadfstica, comercial e 
industrial; usos costumbres y literatura nacional. . . . Por Miguel Tejera. . . . 
Paris, E. D. Schmitz, 1875-77. 2 v. maps. 8°. 

Wolff, A.: Les Etats-Unis de Venezuela. 1889. Bruxelles, L. Wintraecken (1889). 
30 p. 8°. 

CARTOGRAPHY. a 

1840. Atlas ffsico y politico de la republica de Venezuela dedicado por su autor, el 
coronel de ingenieros Agustfn Codazzi al congreso constituyente de 1830. 
eng. title. 8 pp. 19 maps. Caracas, 1840. Paris, lith. de Thierry freres. 

CONTENTS. 

1. Mapa-mundi liistorico. 

2. America historica, fisica yjpolitica actual. 1840. 

3. Mapa de las costas de Tierra-Firme, desde el Orinoco hasta YucatAn, de las islas 

Antillas y la mayor parte de las Lucayas cori las derrotas que siguio dn. Cristobal 

Coldn. 

4. Mapa politico de Venezuela antes de la revolucion de 1810. Mapa politico de la 

republica de Venezuela en 1840. 

5. Mapa fisico de Venezuela dividida en hoyas hidrogrAlicas. Mapa fisico de Vene¬ 

zuela dividido en tres zonas. 


a Am. Hist. Asso.—Guiana and Venezuela Cartography, by P. Lee Phillips, 1898. 






CARTOGRAPHY. 


547 


6. Mapa de Venezuela para servir A la historia de las campafias de la guerra de inde- 

pendeneia en los afios de 1812, 1813, y 1814. Mapa de Venezuela para servir A la 
historia de las campafias de la guerra de independencia en los afios 1816, 1817, 
y 1818. Mapa de Venezuela y parte de la Nueva-Granada para servir A la historia 
de las campafias de la guerra de independencia en los afios 1818 y parte de 1819. 

7. Mapa de Venezuela, Nueva-Granada y Quito, para servir & la historia de las cam¬ 

pafias de la guerra de independencia en los afios 1819 y 1820. 

8. Mapa de los tres departamentos Venezuela, Cundinamarca y Ecuador que for- 

maron la republica de Colombia, para servir A la historia de las campafias dc la 
guerra de independencia en los afios de 1821, 1822, y 1823. 

9. Mapa que contiene una parte de las republicas del Ecuador, Peru, y Bolivia para 

servir A la historia de las campafias del ejercito colombiano en cl alto y bajo 
Peru sacado de otro publicado en 1826 y corregido segiin las observaciones A 
itineraries de los oficiales facultativos que acompafiaron los ejercitos en sus 
diferentes operaciones. 

10. Carta de la republica de Colombia dividida por departamentos. 

11. Provincia de Caracas. 

12. Islas y provincia de Margarita; provincia de Barcelona: provincia de Cumand; 

cantdn de Piacoa de la provincia de Guayana. 

13. Provincia de Maracaibo; provincia de Coro; provincia de Merida. 

14. Provincia de Carabobo; provincia de Barquisimeto; provincia de Trujillo; pro¬ 

vincia de Barinas. 

15. Provincia de Apure; carta del cant6n de Cayara de la provincia de Guyana. 

16. Carta del canton de Upata de la provincia de Guayana. 

17. Carta del canton de Angostura de la provincia de Guayana. 

18. Carta del canton dc rio Negro de la provincia de Guayana. 

19. Alturas de montafias, longitud del curso de los rios, etc. 

1875. Mapa ffsico y politico do los Estados Unidos de Venezuela. Sacado del mapa 

Gral Agustfn Codazzi por Miguel Tejera. 1875. Grave par A. Martin, 
12 x 16J inches. 

[Tejera Ing. (Miguel). Venezuela pintoresca 6 ilustrada. 8°. Paris, 1875. v. 1 at 
end.] 

1876. Mapa ffsico y politico de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela segiin el Gral A. 

Codazzi con arreglo d la actual division territorial. Par. M. Tejera. 
4 sh. Paris, 1876. 

1884. Mapa ffsico y politico de los E. E. U. U. de Venezuela. 19 x 36 inches. 

[In Venezuela. Department of f omen to. Statistical annuary of the United States of 
Venezuela, fol. Caracas. 1884. On back of text.] 

1887. Mapa de la parte oriental de Venezuela para mostrar las invasiones realizadas 
par el gobierno Britdnico en el territorio de la republica 1887. Pibu- 
jado p. Jesus Munoz Tebar. Publicado de orden del ilustre americano 
general Guzman Blanco. 18 x 12£ inches. 

[ In Venezuela. Latest correspondence on the question of limits of Guiana, fol. 
Caracas, 1887.] 

Note.— Same map published in “Correspondence between the Venezuelan Govern¬ 
ment and H. B. M.’s Government, 1887” and in President Cleveland’s message, 1888. 

1889. Mapa ffsico y politico de los E. E., U. U., de Venezuela. Copy of the map 
published in the statistical annuary of 1889. 1(B x 13 inches. 

[In Chicago exhibition. The United States of Venezuela in 1893. 8°. New York, 
1893.] 

1890-96. Mapa demostrativo de las diversas lineas de lfmites propuestas por Vene¬ 
zuela e Inglaterra y en el cual se ve tambien la variation hecha par esta 
d la caprichosa linea deSchomburgk 1890. Dibujado par Juan Monserratte. 
Rectificado en 1896. 25 x 23 inches. 

[In Venezuela. Memoria que presenta el ministro tie relaciones interiores al congreso 
de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela en 1896. fol. Caracas, 1896.] 

Map of Venezuela. Ilf x 211 inches. 

[In Bureau of the American Republics, Venezuela, 8°, Washington, 1892. Bul¬ 
letin No. 34.] 


1892. 


548 


VENEZUELA 


1896. Carta corogrftfica de las regiones del Esequebo, Cuyuni y Amacuro 1896. 

Arreglada y dirigida par Manuel Cipriano Perez. 20 x 27 inches. 

[In Venezuela. Memoria que presenta el ministro de relaciones interiores al congreso 
de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela en 1896. fol. Caracas, 1896.] 

1897. Maps of the Orinoco-Essequibo region, South America. Compiled for the 

commission appointed by the President of the United States to “investi¬ 
gate and report upon the true divisional line between the Republic of 
Venezuela and British Guiana.” 3 p. 1. 76 maps. fol. Washington, 

1897. 

Note.— Volume four of the Report. 

CONTENTS. 

1. Boundaries claimed or proposed. 

2. Forests and savannas. 

3. Drainage basins. 

4. Geology. 

5. European occupation in 1597. 

6. European occupation in 1626. 

7. European occupation in 1648. 

8. European occupation in 1674. 

9. European occupation in 1703. 

10. European occupation in 1724. 

11. European occupation in 1756. 

12. European occupation in 1773. 

13. European occupation in 1796. 

14. European occupation in 1803 (1814). 

15. General view of European occupation, 1597-1803 (1814). 

16. Mercator. Map of the world, 1538. 

17. Orontius Finfeus. Map of the world, 1566. 

18. Martyr. Map of America, 1534. 

19. Martyr. Map of the New World, 1587. 

20. Ortelius. Map of America, 1587. 

21. Raleigh. Chart of Guiana [1595?]. 

22. Speed. Map of America, 1626. 

23. De Bry. Map of Guiana, 1599. 

24. De Laet. Map of Guiana, 1630. 

25. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana, 1635. 

26. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana, 1667. 

27. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana, 1640. 

28. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana. No date. 

29. Sanson. Part of his map of South America, 1650. 

30. Sanson. Map of Guiana and Caribana, 1656. 

31. Robert de Vaugondy. Part of his South America, 1750. 

32. Delamarehe. Part of his map of South America [1767?]. 

33. Popple. Map of Surinam, 1733. 

34. Popple. Map of the British Empire in America, 1733. 

35. Popple. Part of above, enlarged, 1733. 

36. Delisle. Part of his map of South America, 1700. 

37.. Delisle. Part of northern portion of South America, 1703. 

38. Delisle. Part of his map of America, 1722. 

39. D’Anville. Map of South America, 1748. 

40. D’Anville. Part of above, enlarged, 1748. 

41. Jefferys. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1775. 

42. Jefferys. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1781. 

43. Thompson. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1783. 

44. Jefferys. Part of northern coast of South America, 1792. 

45. Jefferys. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1795. 

46. Bouchenroeder. Map of a part of Guiana, 1798. 

47. Arrowsmith. Map of part of Colombia, 1832. 

48. Arrowsmith. Part of his map of South America, 1840. 

49. Schomburgk. Part of the Great Colonial map, 1875. 

50. Cruz Cano y Olmedilla. Part of his South America, 1775. 

51. Bonne. Map of South America, 1781. 

52. Beilin. Map of Guiana, 1763, 


CARTOGRAPHY. 


549 


53. Giissefeldt. Part of his map of America, 1796. 

54. Hartsinek. Map of Guiana, 1770. 

55. Mannert. Part, of his map of South America, 1803. 

56. Gumila. Map of the Jesuit Missions of New Granada, 1741. 

57. Van Petten?. Cayenne [1598?]. 

58. Van Petten. The Gulf of Paria, 1598. 

59. Maas. Essequibo, 1706. 

60. Storm van ’s Gravesande. Essequibo, 1748. 

61. Storm van \s Gravesande. Orinoco-Essequibo region, 1760. 

62. D’Anville inset in Bercheyck. Guiana [1761?]. 

63. Heneman. The mouth of the Cuyuni, 1772. 

64. Heneman. Essequibo and Demerara, 1775. 

65. Heneman. Boundary-line of Spanish and Dutch Guiana [1776?]. 

66. Siraut-Destouches. Essequibo, 1779. 

67. Siraut-Destouches?. Essequibo [1780?]. 

68. Chollet. Coast region o f the Essequibo Colony, 1791 or earlier. 

69. Chollet. The Pomeroon coast region, 1794. 

70. Bouchenroeder. Essequibo and Demerara, 1795. 

71. Surville. Neuva Andalucia, 1778. 

72. Anonymous. Capuchin Missions of Guayana [1735?]. 

73. Fr. Carlos De Barcelona. Capuchin Missions of Guayana, 1771. 

74. Fr. Carlos De Barcelona. Capuchin Missions of Guayana, 1779. 

75. Anonymous. Capuchin Missions of Guayana [1789?]. 

76. Early Spanish map of Guiana [15—?]. 

1898. Venezuela-British Guiana boundary arbitration. The case of the United 
States of Venezuela before the tribunal of arbitration to convene at Paris, 
under the provisions of the treaty between the United States of Vene¬ 
zuela and Her Britannic Majesty signed at Washington Feb. 2, 1897. 
Volume 4. Appendix atlas. 2 p. 1. 91 maps. fol. Baltimore, A.‘Hoen 
& Co. 1898. 

CONTENTS. 

Note.— This atlas contains 78 maps. They are not numbered consecutively, the num¬ 
bers 2, 3, and 5 to 15, inclusive, being omitted. This omission was made in order 
that those maps which appear in both the U. S. Commission Atlas and in this atlas 
might bear same numbers. Thirteen maps in the U. S. Commission Atlas (num¬ 
bers 2, 3, and 5 to 15) do not appear in this atlas. Fifteen other maps, here 
numbered 77 to 91, inclusive, appear here, but not in the U. S. Commission Atlas. 

1. Boundaries claimed or proposed, 1897; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

4. Geological map, 1897; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

16. Mercator. Map of the world, 1538; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

17. Orontius Finseus. Map of the world, 1566; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

18. Martyr. Map of America, 1534; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

19. Martyr. Map of the New World, 1587; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

20. Ortelius. Map of America, 1587; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

21. Raleigh. Chart of Guiana (1595?): from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

22. Speed. Map of America, 1626; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

23. De Bry. Map of Guiana, 1599; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

24. De Laet. Map of Guiana, 1630; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

25. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana, 1635; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

26. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana, 1667; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

27. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana, 1640; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

28. Blaeuw. Map of Guiana, no date; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

29. Sanson. Part of his map of South America, 1650; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

30. Sanson. Map of Guiana and Caribana, 1656; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

31. Robert de Vaugondy. Part of his South America, 1750: from U. S. Commission 

Atlas. 

32. Delamarche. Part of his map of South America (1767?); from U. S. Commission 

Atlas. 

33. Popple. Map of Surinam, 1733; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

34. Popple. Map of the British Empire in America, 1733; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

35. Popple. Part of the above, enlarged, 1733; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

36. Delisle. Part of his map of South America, 1700; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

37. Delisle. Part of northern portion of South America, 1703; U. S. Commission Atlas. 

38. Delisle. Part of his map of America, 1722; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

39. D’Anville. Map of South America, 1748; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 


550 


VENEZUELA 


40. D'Anville. Part of above, enlarged, 1748; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

41. Jefferys. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1775; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

42. Jefferys. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1781; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

43. Thompson. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1783; from U. S. Commission 

Atlas. 

44. Jefferys. Part of northern coast of South America, 1792; from U. S. Commission 

Atlas. 

45. Jefferys. Part of his chart of the Guiana coast, 1795; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

46. Bouchenroeder. Map of a part of Guiana, 1798; from U. S Commission Atlas. 

47. Arrowsmith. Map of a part of Colombia, 1832; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

48. Arrowsmith. Part of his map of South America, 1840; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

49. Schomburgk. Part of the Great Colonial map, 1875; from IT. S. Commission Atlas. 

50. Cruz Cano y Olmedilla. Part of his South America, 1775; from U. S. Commission 

Atlas. 

51. Bonne. Map of South America, 1781; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

52. Beilin. Map of Guiana, 1763; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

53. Gussefeldt. Part of his map of America, 1796; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

54. Hartsinek. Map of Guiana, 1770; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

55. Mannert. Part of his map of South America, 1803; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

56. Gumilla. Map of the Jesuit Missions of New Granada, 1741; from IT. S. Commis¬ 

sion Atlas. 

57. Van Petten. Cayenne (1598?); from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

.58. Van Petten. The Gulf of Paria, 1598; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

59. Maas. Essequibo, 1706; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

60. Storm van. s Gravesande. Essequibo, 1748; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

61. Storm van. s Gravesande. Orinoco-Essequibo region, 1750; from U. S. Commission 

Atlas. 

62. D’Anville inset in Bercheyck. Guiana (1761?). 

63. Heneman. The mouth of the Cuyuni, 1772; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

64. Heneman. Essequibo and Demerara, 1775; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

65. Heneman. Boundary line of Spanish and Dutch Guiana (1776?). 

66. Siraut-Destouches. Essequibo, 1779; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

67. Siraut-Destouches. Essequibo (1780?); from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

68. Chollet. Coast region of the Essequibo colony, 1791 or earlier; from IT. S. Commis¬ 

sion Atlas. 

69. Chollet. The Pomeroon coast region, 1794; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

70. Bouchenroeder. Essequibo and Demerara, 1796; from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

71. Surville. Neuva Andalueia, 1778; from IT. S. Commission Atlas. 

72. Anonymous. Capuchin Mission of Guayana (1735?); from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

73. Fr. Carlos de Barcelona. Capuchin Missions of Guayana, 1771: from IT. S. Com¬ 

mission Atlas. 

74. Fr. Carlos de Barcelona. Capuchin Mission of Guayana (1779?); from U. S. Com¬ 

mission Atlas. 

75. Anonymous. Capuchin Missions of Guayana (1789?); from U. S. Commission Atlas. 

76. Anonymous. Early Spanish map of Guiana (15—?); from IT. S. Commission Atlas. 

77. Manuel Antonio Flores. Spanish Guayana, 1777; from copy of an unpublished 

manuscript in archives at Seville. 

78. B. D’Urban. Settlements in British Guiana, 1828; from Parliamentary Papers, 1828’ 

vol. 23. 

79. J. Hadfield. British Guiana, 1838; from Parliamentary Papers, 1839, vol. 23. 

80. A. Codazzi. Canton of Upata, in Guayana, 1840; from his Atlas of Venezuela, 

Caracas, 1840. 

81. West India Islands, etc., showing light-houses, 1850; from Parliamentary Papers, 
. 1850, vol. 53 (sometimes bound up in vol. 55). 

82. R. H. Schomburgk. British Guiana, 1840.; from Parliamentary Papers (May 11), 

1840, vol. 34. 

83. R. H. Schomburgk. British Guiana, 1840; from his description of British Guiana, 

London, 1840. 

84. R. H. Schomburgk. Karte von Guyana, 1841; from his Reisen in Guiana und am 

Orinoco, Leipzig, 1841. 

85. R. II. Schomburgk. Part of Guiana, 1841; from Journal Royal Geographical Society, 

London, 1842, vol. 12. 

86. A. British Guiana from Colonial List, March, 1886. 

B. British Guiana from Colonial List, December, 1886. 

C. Miindungsland des Essequibo, Demerara und Berbice, 1847; from Schomburgk 

(Richard). Reisen in British Guiana, Leipzig, 1817, vol. 1. 

87. R. H. Schomburgk. Karte von British Guyana, 1847; from same. 


Handbook of Venezuela. 



1 


RIVER SAN JOSE, WHERE IT MEETS THE TUY AND STRAMINA RIVERS, BERMUDEZ STATE 

(Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 









CARTOGRAPHY. 


551 


88. R. H. Schomburgk. Part of British Guiana, 1875; from Great Colonial map, by E. 

Stanford, London. First edition (left page). 

Same, second edition. No.49 repeated (right page). 

89. R. H. Schomburgk. British Guiana, 1867; from Exposition Universelle de Paris, 

1867—Catalogue des Produits Exposes par la Guyane Anglaise; London, 1867. 

90. C. Barrington Brown. British Guiana, 1876; from his Canoe and Camp Life in 

British Guiana, London, 1876. 

91. H. I. Perkins. British Guiana, 1895; from his Notes on British Guiana and its gold 

industry, London, 1895. 

1898 . Atlas to accompany the case presented on the part of the Government of Her 
Britannic Majesty to the arbitral tribune between Great Britain and the 
United States of Venezuela constituted under the provisions of a treaty 
ratified at Washington on June 14, 1897. Compiled under the supervision 
of Major S. C. N. Grant, F. R. G. S., R. 0. in the intelligence division 
of the war office; Major-General Sir John Ardagh, K. C. I. K., etc. 

LIST OF MAPS. 

British Guiana Geographical map. Sheet 1. 

British Guiana Geographical map. Sheet 2. 

British Guiana Geographical map. Shewing Savannah, Forest, and River Basins. 
British Guiana Geographical map. Shewing Boundaries to illustrate diplomatic 
correspondence. 

1599. Hondius, Jodocus. Nieuwe Caerte van het landt Guiana. 

1625. De Laet, Joannes. Gvaiana, ofte de Provincien tusschen Rio de las Amazonas 
ende Rio Yviapari, ofte Orinoqve. 

1640. Blaeuw, Guiljelmus. Gviana, sine Amazonvm Regio. 

1647. .Tansson, Joannes. Gviana, sine Amazonvm Regio. 

1654. Du Val d’Abbeville, Pierre. LaGvaiane, on Coste Sauvage, autrement El Dorado 
et Pais des Amazones. 

1656. Sanson d’Abbeville, Nicholas. Partie de Terre Ferine, on sunt Gviane et 
Caribane. 

1690. Visscher, Nicholas. Insulae Americanae. 

1722. Delisle, Guillaume. Carte d’Amerique. 

1733. Popple, Henry. The British Empire in America. 

1740. Buache, Philippe. Carte d’une partie de 1’Amerique pour la Navigation des Isles 

et du Golfe du Mexique. 

1741. Gumilla, Padre Joseph. Mapa de la Provincia, y Missiones de la Campania de 

IHS del Nuevo Reyno de Granada. 

1748. D’Anville, Jean Baptiste. Am6rique Meridionale. 

1748. Storm van’s Gravesande, Laurens. Caart van de Volkplantinge in Essequebo en 
Demerary. 

1748. Storm van’s Gravesande, Laurens. Lists of plantations and owners. 

1749. Storm van’s Gravesande, Laurens. Nievwe Caart van Essequebo en Demararv. 
1748. Storm van’s Gravesande, Laurens. Rios Essequebo et Demerary. 

1750. Robert de Vaugondy, Didier. Am6rique Meridionale. 

1751. Cigni, Julius Csesar. (Jesuitmap) Provincia QuitensisSocietatisJesu in America. 
1760. D’Anville, Jean Baptiste. Amerique Meridionale. 

1770. Centurion, Don Manuel. Plano General de la prouincia de Guaiana. 

1770. Hartsinck, Jan Jacob. Caart van Guiana. 

1771. Bonne, R. Carte de la Terre Ferme, de la Guyane et du Pays des Amazones. 

1775. Cruz Cano y Olmedilla, Juan de la. Mapa Geographico de America Meridional. 

1776. Valdes, Juan. 

1778. Surville, Luis de. Mapa Coro-graphico de la Nueva Andalusia, Provinc.ias de 
Cumanii y Guyana, etc. 

1783. Bochette, L. S. de la. (Thompson, Edward) The Coast of Guayana from the 
Oroonoko to the River of Amazons, etc. 

1790. Janvier, Jean. L’Am<§rique, divis6e en ses principaux Etats. 

1794. Laurie and Whittle. Map of South America, containing Tierra Firma, Guayana, 
etc. 

1794. Laurie and Whittle. New Map of the whole Continent of America. 

1798. Walker, Captain Thomas. Chart of the Coast of Guyana. 

1798. Bouchenroeder, F. von. Carte generate et particuliere de la Colonie d’Essequebo 
et Demerarie. 

1798. Bouchenroeder, F. von. Carte generate. (Inset map in preceding on a smaller 
scale.) 


552 


VENEZUELA. 


1802. Commandant Hislop. (’hart of Guyana, eto. 

1832. Arrowsmith, John. Colombia. 

1842. Hebert, L. J. Map of British Guiana. Sheet 1. 

Hebert, L. J. Map of British Guiana. Sheet 2. 

184(). Mahlmann, H. (for Richard Schomburgk). Karte von Britisch-Guyana. 

1875. Stanford, Edward. IVIap of British Guiana. 

1880. Stanford, Edward. Re-issue of the edition of 1875. 

Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. Sketch Map of British Guiana, 1839. 
Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. First Map of the limits of British Guiana, 
1841. Western Sheet. 

Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. First Map of the limits of British Guiana, 
1841. Eastern Sheet. 

Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. Second Map of the limits between British 
Guiana and Venezuela, 1841. 

Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. Third Map (physical features). North Sheet. 
Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. Third Map (physical features). South Sheet. 
Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. Entrance to the River Barima, 1841. 
Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. Entrance to River Waini or Guainia, 1841. 
Schomburgk, Sir Robert Herman. Sketch Map of River Takutu, 1842. 


PERIODICALS OF VENEZUELA. 


Federal District.— Caracas: El Constitutional, El Pregonero, El Monitor, El 
Noticiero, El Corresponsal, El Dominical (weekly), El Eeo Restaurador, La 
Voz de la Nacidn, Tio Lagarto, La Religion, El Com bate, La Agenda Pumar, 
La Justicia, La Linterna Magica, El Cojo Uustrado (monthly), La Industria, 
Anales de la Universidad Central, La Gaceta Clidal, Gaceta Municipal, Gaceta 
Medica, La Bolsa de Caracas, “El Problema,” Caracas; Venezuelan Herald, 
“Droguerfa Americana” (weekly), La Semana (weekly), La Hidalguia (month¬ 
ly), El Clarfn, El Valle. La. Guaira: El Ileraldo. Margarita: Gaceta Oficial, 
Asuncion; La Asuncion, Asuncion; La Voz Oriental, Asuncion; “Porlamar Ilus- 
trado,” Porlamar. 

State of Aragua. —Gaceta Oticial, La Victoria; El Atalaya, La Victoria; El Sema- 
nario, Turmero; El Sol de Aragua, Cagua; “Aragua,” La Victoria, El Industrial, 
La Victoria. 

State of Bermudez. —Gaceta Oficial, Maturfn; Gaceta Oficial, Cumana; “La Voz del 
Estado;” “Broches de Flores,” Cumand; Gaceta Oficial, Un Diario, Carupano; 
Gaceta Oficial, Barcelona; “El Espectador,” “ El Orden,”. Barcelona; La Voz 
de Barcelona. 

State of Bolivar. —Gaceta Oficial, Ciudad Bolivar; “El Anunciador;” “Hori- 
zontes,” Ciudad Bolivar. 

State of Carabobo. —Gaceta Oficial, Valencia; Gaceta Municipal, Valencia; Don 
Timoteo, Valencia; El Cronista, Valencia; “Tartarm,” “El Discfpulo,” “El 
Centinela,” Valencia. Puerto Cabello: Boletfn de Noticias, Diario Comercial, 
El Economista, Dos Almas, Letras v Numeros, Diogenes, Minerva, La Union 
Liberal. 

State of Falcon.- —Gaceta Oficial, Coro; Gaceta Municipal del Distrito Merida, Coro; 
El Sentinela Liberal, Coro; El Progreso, Coro; El Conciliador, Coro; Lampos 
Corianos, Coro, La Union. 

State of Guarico. —Gaceta Oficial, Calabozo; “La Opinion del Guarico,”' Calabozo; 
El Colaborador Guariqueno, Calabozo; Gaceta Oficial, San Fernando; El Heraldo, 
San Fernando; El Apure, San Fernando. 

State of Lara.— Gaceta Oficial, Barquisimeto; El Imparcial, Barquisimeto; “El 
Progresista,” Acarigua; “El Impulso,” Carora; “La Concordia,” El Tocuyo; 
“El Avisador,” “El Progreso,” “Iris Nacional,” “Patria y Causa,” “El Eco 
Industrial,” foregoing from Barquisimeto; Gaceta Oficial, San Felipe; “El Siglo 
XX,” San Felipe, La Reconstruction, Barquisimeto, La Epoca, Barquisimeto, 
El Minuto, San Felipe. 


NEWSPAPERS. 


558 


State of Merida. —Gaceta Oficial, Merida; Colaborador Andino, Merida; El Posta 
Andino, Merida; La Botica, ISIerida; Gaceta Municipal del Distrito Libertador, 
Merida; Campos Andinos, Merida; El Eco de la Juventud, El Observador, Tovar. 
State of Miranda. —Gaceta Oficial, Ocumare, El Esfuerzo, Guatire. 

State of Tachira. —Gaceta Oficial, San Cristobal; La Idea Restauradora, San Cris¬ 
tobal; Horizontes, San Cristobal; El Eco de la Juventud, Tovar; Yerdades, San 
Cristobal; El Mirandino, Tovar; Hoja Patriotica, Tariba; El Municipio, Tariba; 
Variedades, San Cristobal. 

State of Trujillo. —Gaceta Oficial, Trujillo; El Monitor Trujillano, Trujillo; El 
Sentinela Popular, Trujillo; Repertorio, Trujillo. 

State of Zamora. —Gaceta Oficial, San Carlos; El Restaurador, Bar mas; Guanare. 

Ecus de Cojedes, San Carlos; Gaceta Oficial, El Eco de las Pampas, San Carlos. 
State of Zulia. —Gaceta Oficial, Maracaibo; Gaceta Municipal, Maracaibo; “ Ecos 
del Zulia,” “El Avisador,” “El Fonografo,” “LaTira.” 














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APPENDIX. 


DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE—NATIONAL CONSTITUTION— 
BRITISH, GERMAN, AND ITALIAN PROTOCOLS—VENEZUELAN 
CONGRESS’S ACTION ON THEM—HAGUE PROTOCOLS—HAGUE 
ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL’S AWARD—PUBLIC TREATIES AND 
CONVENTIONS IN FORCE. 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

ACT OF INDEPENDENCE. 

In the name of All-powerful God: 

We, the representatives of the United Provinces of Caracas, Cumana, 
Barinas, Margarita, Barcelona, Merida, and Trujillo, forming the 
American Confederation of Venezuela, in the Southern Continent, in 
Congress assembled, considering the full and absolute possession of 
our rights which we recovered justly and legally since the 19th of 
April, 1810, in consequence of the occurrences in Ba}^onne, and the 
occupation of the Spanish throne by conquest, and the succession of a 
new dynasty, constituted without our consent, are desirous, before we 
make use of the rights, of which we have been deprived by force 
for more than three centuries, but are now restored to us by the 
political order of human events, to make known to the world the 
reasons which are the outcome of said occurrences, and authorize us in 
the free use we are about to make of our sovereignty: 

We do not wish, however, to begin by alleging the rights inherent 
in every conquered country to recover its state of property and 
independence; we generously forget the long series of ills, injuries, 
and privations which the sad right of conquest has indistinctly caused 
to all the descendants of the discoverers, conquerors, and settlers of 
these countries, plunged into a worse state by the very same cause 
that ought to have favored them; and drawing a veil over the three 
hundred years of Spanish domination in America, we will now only 
present to view the authentic and well-known facts which ought to and 
have wrested from one world the right over the other, by the inver¬ 
sion, disorder, and conquest that have already dissolved the Spanish 

nation. 

This disorder has increased the ills of America by rendering void 
its claims and remonstrances, enabling the governors of Spain to insult 

555 


556 


VENEZUELA. 


and oppress this part of the nation, thus leaving it without the succor 
and guaranty of the laws. 

It is contrary to order, impossible to the Government of Spain, and 
fatal to the welfare of America that the latter, possessed of an expanse 
of territory infinitely larger and a population incomparably more 
numerous, should depend upon and be subject to a peninsular corner 
of the European continent. 

The cessions and abdications at Bayonne, the revolutions of the 
Escurial and Aranjuez, and the orders of the royal substitute, the 
Duke of Berg, sent to America, suffice to give inherent power to the 
rights which until then the Americans had sacrificed to the unity and 
integrity of the Spanish nation. 

Venezuela was the first to acknowledge and generously to preserve 
this integrity; not to abandon the cause of its brothers so long as the 
same retained the least hope of salvation. 

America was called into a new existence, since she could and ought 
to take upon herself the charge of her own fate and preservation; as 
Spain might acknowledge or not the rights of a king who had pre¬ 
ferred his own existence to the dignity of the nation over which he 
governed. 

All the Bourbons concurred in the invalid stipulations of Bayonne, 
abandoning Spain against the will of the people; they violated, dis¬ 
dained, and trampled on the sacred duty they had contracted with the 
Spaniards of both worlds when with their blood and treasure they had 
placed them on the throne in defiance of the House of Austria. By 
such conduct they were left disqualified and incapable of governing a 
free people, whom they delivered up like a flock of slaves. 

The intruding governments, who abrogated the national represen¬ 
tation, made perfect use, to their own advantage, of the disposition, 
good faith, distance, coercion, and ignorance of the Americans, against 
the new dynasty introduced in Spain by force; and against its own 
principles maintained among us the illusion in favor of Ferdinand, in 
order to destroy and vex us with impunity when they were promising 
us liberty, equality, and fraternity in pompous speeches and studied 
phrases, to conceal the snare of a skilfull, useless, and degrading 
representation. 

When they dissolved, substituted, and destroyed among themselves 
the different forms of Spanish government, and sheer necessity obliged 
Venezuela to preserve herself to discuss and maintain the King’s 
rights, and offer an asylum to her brethren in Europe against the 
evils which menaced them, all her former conduct was disavowed, 
principles were changed, and what was formerly considered a rule by 
the Spanish governments, was called insurrection, perfidy, and ingrati¬ 
tude because the monopoly of administration, which the} r endeavored 


ACT OF INDEPENDENCE. 


557 


to perpetuate in the name of an imaginary king, was on the point of 
ceasing. 

Notwithstanding our protests, our moderations, our generosity, and 
the inviolability of our principles, contrary to the wishes of our breth¬ 
ren in Europe, we were declared in a state of rebellion; we were 
blockaded; war was declared against us; agents were sent among us 
to create discord, endeavoring to take away our credit with the other 
nations of Europe by imploring their assistance to oppress us. 

"W ithout taking the least notice of our reasons, without presenting 
them to the impartial judgment of the world, and without any other 
judges than our own enemies, we are condemned to a distressing incom¬ 
munication with our brethren; and to add contempt to calumny, 
empowered agents are against us, against our own expressed will, that 
in their Cortes they may arbitrarily dispose of our interests under the 
influence and force of our enemies. 

In order to crush and suppress the effects of our representation, 
when they were obliged to grant it to us, we were submitted to an 
unfair and mean tariff; and the form of election was subjected to the 
passive voice of the municipal bodies, degraded by the despotism of 
the governors, which amounted to an insult to our fair dealing and 
good faith, more than to a consideration of our incontestable political 
importance. 

Always deaf to the cries of justice on our part, the governments of 
Spain have endeavored to discredit all our efforts by declaring as 
criminal and stamping with infamy and rewarding with the scaffold 
and confiscation every attempt that, at different periods, some Ameri¬ 
cans have made for the well-being of their country; as was that which 
lately our own security dictated to us that we might not be driven into 
a state of disorder which we foresaw, and hurried to that appaling fate 
which we are about to forever remove. By means of such atrocious 
policy they have succeeded in making our brethren insensible to our 
misfortunes, in arming them against us, in erasing from their bosoms 
the tender impressions of friendship and consanguinity, and convert¬ 
ing into enemies a part of our own great family. 

When we, being faithful to our promises, sacrificed our security and 
civil dignity in order not to abandon the rights which we generously 
maintained in favor of Ferdinand of Bourbon, have seen that to the 
relations of force which bound him to the Emperor of the French he 
has added sanguinary and friendly ties, for which even the govern¬ 
ments of Spain have already declared their resolution to acknowledge 
him only conditionally. 

In this unfortunate alternative we have remained three years in a state 
of political indecision and ambiguity so fatal and dangerous that this 
alone would suffice to authorize the resolution which the faith of our 


558 


VENEZUELA. 


promises and the bonds of fraternity had caused us to defer until neces¬ 
sity has obliged us to go beyond what we had at first proposed, im¬ 
pelled by the hostile and unnatural conduct of the Governments of 
Spain, which have disburdened us of our conditional oath, by which 
circumstance we are called to the august representation we now exer¬ 
cise. 

But we, who glory in grounding our proceedings on better princi¬ 
ples, and not wishing to establish our well-being on the misfortunes of 
our fellow-beings, do consider and declare as friends those who, united 
to us by the ties of blood, language, and religion, have suffered the 
same evils in the former order of things, provided they acknowledge 
our absolute independence of the same and of any other foreign power 
whatever; that they aid us to sustain it with their lives, fortunes, and 
sentiments, declaring and acknowledging them (as well as to every 
other nation) in war enemies, and in peace friends, brothers, and 
compatriots. 

In consequence of all these solid, public, and incontestable reasons 
of policy, which so powerfully urge the necessity of recovering our 
natural dignity, restored to us by the order of events, and in compli¬ 
ance with the inprescrible rights enjoyed by nations to destroy 
every pact, agreement, or association which does not answer the pur¬ 
poses for which governments were established, we believe that we can 
not and ought not to preserve the bonds which hitherto kept us united 
to the Government of Spain, and that, like all the other nations of the 
world, we are free and authorized not to depend on any other author- 
ity than our own and to take among the powers of the earth the 
place of equality which the Supreme Being and nature assign to us, 
and to which we are called by the succession of human events and 
urged by our own good and utility. 

Notwithstanding we are aware of the difficulties that attend and the 
obligations imposed upon us b} T the rank we are about to assume in 
the political order of the world, as well as the powerful influence of 
forms and habits to which unfortunatelv we have been accustomed, 
we at the same time know that the shameful submission to them, when 
we can throw them off, would be still more ignominious for us and 
more fatal to our prosperity than our long and painful slavery, and 
that it now becomes an indispensable duty to provide for our own 
preservation, security, and well-being bv essentially vaiying all the 
forms of our former constitution. 

In consequence whereof, considering, b} r the reasons thus alleged, 
that we have satisfied the respect that we owe to the human race and 
the dignity of other nations, in the number of whom we are about to 
enter and on whose communication and friendship we rely, we, the 
representatives of the united Provinces of Venezuela, calling on the 
Supreme Being to witness the justice of our proceedings and the rec- 


CONSTITUTION. 


559 


titude of our intentions, do implore His divine and celestial aid; and 
ratifying, at the moment in which we are born to the dignity which 
His P rovidence restores to us, the desire we have of living and dying 
free and of believing and defending the holy catholic and apostolic 
religion of Jesus Christ, we therefore, in the name and by the will 
and authority that we hold from the virtuous people of Venezuela, do 
declare solemnly to the world that its united Provinces are, and ought 
to be, from this day, by act and right, free, sovereign, and independ¬ 
ent states; and that they are absolved from every submission to and 
dependence on the throne of Spain, or on those who do or may call 
themselves its agents and representatives, and that a free and inde¬ 
pendent state, thus constituted, has full power to take that form of 
government which may be in conformity with the general will of the 
people—to declare war, make peace, form alliances, regulate treaties 
of commerce, limits, and navigation, and to do and transact every act 
in like manner as other free and independent states; and that this 
our solemn declaration may be held valid, firm, and durable, we 
hereby mutually bind each Province to the other, and pledge our lives, 
fortunes, and the sacred tie of our national honor. Done in the Fed¬ 
eral Palace of Caracas, signed by our hands, sealed with the great 
provisional seal of the Confederation, and countersigned by the Sec-’ 
retary of the Congress, this fifth day of July, 1811, the first of our 
independence. (Here follow the signatures of representatives and 
Secretary of the Congress.) 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA. 

The constituent Congress of the United States of Venezuela, in the 
name of God Almighty, and by authority of the people of Venezuela, 
decrees the following Constitut ion (1904): 

Tilte I. 

Article 1 . The territory of the United States of Venezuela is the 
same which in 1810 corresponded to the Captaincy-General of Vene¬ 
zuela with the modifications resulting from subsequent public treaties. 

Art. 2. The territory of the United States of Venezuela is divided 

• 

into districts and Federal territories, with the limits and names estab¬ 
lished in the States’ laws on territorial division and in the laws organ¬ 
izing the territories. 

Art. 3. The districts which compose the Venezuelan Federation and 
which are its constituent parts shall be grouped to form the States of 
Aragua, Bermudez, Bolivar, Carabobo, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, 
Miranda, Tachira, Trujillo, Zamora, and Zulia. 

§1. The State of Aragua shall consist of the following districts: 
Bruzual, Girardot, Marino, Ricaurte, Koscio, San Casimiio, San 
Sebastian, Urdaneta, and Zamora. 


560 


VENEZUELA. 


The State of Bermudez shall consist of the following districts: 
Acosta, Aragua, Arismendi, Benitez, Bermudez, Bolivar, Bruzual, 
Cajigal, Cedefio, Freytes, Libertad. Mejias, Monagas, Montes, Penal- 
ver, Piar, Rivero, Sucre, and Zaraza. 

The State of Bolivar shall consist of the following districts: Cedeno, 
Heres, Independencia, Miranda, Sotillo, Sucre, and Tadeo Monagas. 

The State of Carabobo shall consist of the following districts: Bejuma, 
Falcon, Guacara, Montalban, Nirgua, Ocumare, Puerto Cabello, and 
Valencia. 

The State of Falcon shall consist of the following districts: Acosta, 
Bolivar. Buchivacoa, Colina, Democracia, Falcon, Federacion, Miranda, 
Petit, Urdaneta, and Zamora. 

The State of Guarico shall consist of the following districts: Acha- 
guas, Infante, Miranda, with the municipality El Calvario,” Munoz, 
and San Fernando. 

The State of Lara shall consist of the following districts: Barquisi- 
meto, Bruzual, Cabudare, Crespo, Quibor, San Felipe, Silva, Sucre, 
Tocuyo, Torres, Uracliiche, and Yaritagua. 

The State of Merida shall consist of the following districts: Campo- 
Elias, Libertador, Miranda, Pedraza, Rangel, Rivas Davila, Sucre, 
Torondoy, and Tovar. 

The State of Miranda shall consist of the following districts: Ace¬ 
vedo, Brion, Lander, Monagas, Paez, Paz Castillo, Plaza. Urdaneta, 
and Zamora. 

The State of Tachira shall consist of the following districts: Ayacu- 
eho, Bolivar, Cardenas, Castro, Junin, La Grita, Lobatera, Paez, with 
the municipality of Elorza, San Cristobal, and Uribante. 

The State of Trujillo shall consist of the following districts: Beti- 
joque, Bocono, Carache, Escuque, Trujillo, Urdaneta, and Valera. 

The State of Zamora shall consist of the following districts: Acarigua, 
Anzoategui, Araure, Arismendi, Barinas, Bolivar, Esteller, Girardot, 
Guanare, Guanarito, Obispos, Ospino, Pao, Ricaurte, Rojas, San 
Carlos, Sosa, Tinaco, and Turen. 

The State of Zulia shall consist of the following districts: Bolivar, 
Colon, Mara, Maracaibo, Miranda, Paez, Peri j a, Sucre, and Urdaneta. 

*§ 2. The controversies pending between the States of Tachira, 
Merida, and Trujillo, with that of Zulia, and between those of Aragua 
and Carabobo, as well as any other existing between one State and 
another on account of their respective boundaries, shall be decided by 
the tribunal referred to in article 126 of this constitution. 

Art. 4. The Federal Territories, to be orgainized by special laws, 
are the following: Amazonas, Cristobal Colon, Colon, Delta-Amacuro, 
and Yuruari. 

Sole section. The Federal Territories shall have the right to ask to 
be admitted to the rank of a State upon proof of the following cir¬ 
cumstances: 


CONSTITUTION. 


561 


1st. That their population is at least one hundred thousand inhabi¬ 
tants, and 

2d. Upon proving’ to Congress tnat they are able to carry on the 
public service in all its branches and to meet the expense which it 
requires. 

Art. 5. The Federal district, which shall be organized by a special 
law, shall consist of the Libertador, Vargas, Guaicaipuro, and Sucre 
departments and of the island of Margarita. 

Sole section. The seat of the Federal Government is the Libertador 
department of the Federal district; but the executive power may 
establish its transitory residence in any other part of said district 
when required by unforeseen circumstances. 

Art. 6. The territory of the nation can not be alienated in any way 
to any foreign power. 

Title II. —Bases of the Union. 


Art. 7. The States that form the Venezuelan Union arc autonomous 
and politically equal; they shall preserve, in all its plenitude, the 
sovereignty not delegated in this constitution and bind themselves:— 

First. To organize in accordance with the principles of popular, elec¬ 
tive, federal, representative, alternative, and responsible government, 
and to frame their respective constitutions establishing rules for their 
own interior government in conformity with the principles of this 
fundamental compact. 

Second. To comply and cause others to comply with and execute 
the constitution and laws of the Union and decrees, orders, and reso¬ 
lutions issued by the national authorities in use of their legal rights 
and powers. 

Third. To acknowledge in their respective constitutions the munic¬ 
ipal autonomy of the districts and their independence from the politi¬ 
cal power of the State in everything relative to economic and 
administration matters, and consequently the districts shall have the 
power to establish their own system in accordance with numbers 10, 
11, 12, and 13 of the bases of the Union. 

In case of foreign or civil war the executive power of the States 
shall also assume the administration of the districts under their juris¬ 
diction in revenue and economical matters with the advice of their 
legislative assemble, and if the latter is not in session, with that of its 
supreme court. 

Fourth. To defend themselves against any aggression which may 
endanger their independence or the integrity oi the nation. 

Fifth. Not to alienate to any foreign power any portion of their 
territory nor to implore protection thereof or establish or cultivate 
political and diplomatic relations with other nations. 


4a—04 


•36 



VENEZUELA. 


5()2 


Sixth. Not to annex or ally themselves to any other nation or secede 
from Venezuela. 

Seventh. To cede to the (Government of the Federation the territory 
necessary for building forts, wharves, warehouses, navy-yards, peni¬ 
tentiaries, and an} r other works indispensable for the administration 
of the General Government. 

Eighth. To leave to the Government of the Union the free admin¬ 
istration of the Territories of Amazonas, Cristobal Colon, Colon, Dclta- 
Amacuro, and Yuruari; but the latter shall have the right to ask to be 
admitted to the rank of States upon fulfillment of the conditions 
required by article d of this constitution. 

Ninth. To reserve to the Federal Government full jurisdiction, 
legislative as well as executive, concerning navigation, whether mari¬ 
time, coastwise, or fluvial, and wharves and national roads, and the 
navigation of the rivers and other navigable waters shall not be bur¬ 
dened by taxation or privileges unless some especial work has been 
required. 

Roads shall be national when leading either from one State to 
another or from one State to the Federal district or any Federal 
Territories. 

Tenth. Not to levy taxes on natural products destined for expor¬ 
tation. 

Eleventh. Not to levy taxes upon foreign products already burdened 
by national duties or exempted by law from duty, or upon cattle, 
products, effects, or articles of merchandise of any class whatever 
before being offered for consumption. 

Twelfth. Not to forbid the consumption of cattle, articles, and other 
products of other States, or burden the consumption thereof with 
heavier or lighter taxes than those levied on their similar of the locality. 

Thirteenth. Not to establish custom-houses for the collection of 
duties, since there shall only exist national ones. 

Fourteenth. To reserve to each State the right to dispose of its 
natural products in the manner established by base 27 of the present 
article. 

Fifteenth. To give entire faith and credit to all public acts and 
judicial proceedings of other States of the federal district and of the 
federal Territories and cause the same to be complied with and 
executed. 

Sixteenth. To organize their tribunals and courts for the adminis¬ 
tration of justice and to have all the same substantive legislation in 
civil, commercial, and criminal matters as well as in matters of 
procedure. 

Seventeenth. To concur to the formation of the supreme federal 
court (corte federal y de casacion) in the manner provided by this 
Constitution. 


CONSTITUTION. 


Eighteenth. To abide by the decisions of the supreme federal court 
as supreme court of the federation and the States. 

Nineteenth. To adopt for the appointment of the members of the 
municipal councils, legislative assemblies, and House of Representa¬ 
tives the direct vote, and for their other officials of popular election 
the direct vote or by delegation; it being required to be secretin both 
cases and to be based on the electoral census, according to the federal 
law on the subject. 

Twentieth. To reserve to the nation the right to legislate on supe¬ 
rior public instruction. The nation as well as the States must establish 
gratuitous and compulsory primary instruction and free instruction 
for the arts and trades. 

Twenty-first. Not to impose obligations upon national employes, 
except in the capacity of citizens of the State and insomuch as these 
obligations may not be incompatible with the national public service. 

Twenty-second. To contribute the proportional disarmed contingent 
which corresponds to them to compose the national public forces as 
may be provided by law. 

Twenty-third. Not to permit in its territory forced enlistments or 
levies that may have for their object an attack on liberty or independ¬ 
ence or a disturbance of the public order of the nation, of other States, 
or of another nation. 

Twenty-fourth. Not to declare or wage war with each other in any 
case, and observe strict neutral!ty in all controversies that may arise 
between other States. 

Twenty-fifth. To defer and submit to the decisions of the supreme 
federal court as supreme court of the union in all controversies that 
may arise between two or more States when they can not, by them¬ 
selves and by peaceful means, reach an agreement. If, for any reason, 
in case of resorting to arbitration the} T fail to designate the arbitrator 
to whose decision they submit, the controversy is to be understood by 
this fact to have been referred to the supreme federal court. Con¬ 
troversies relative to boundaries arc excepted and shall be settled 
according to articles 3 and 126 of this constitution. 

Twenty-sixth. To recognize the jurisdiction of the supreme federal 
court as supreme tribunal of the States, to take cognizance of the 
causes arising out of treason or of violation of the constitution and 
laws of the Union, against those who exercise the first executive 
authority in the States, it being their duty to incorporate this provi¬ 
sion in their constitutions. 

These trials shall be conducted according to the rules of proceedings 
established by the general laws, and the decisions shall be rendered in 
conformity with the same. 

Twenty-seventh. To consider as their only source of income: 

1. The contribution collected in all the custom-houses of the Re¬ 
public called the territorial tax. 


VENEZUELA. 


5G4 

2. The total yield of mining, public lands, and salt mines. This 
revenue shall be distributed proportionally among all the States 
according to the number of their inhabitants, to which effect sixty 
thousand inhabitants is established as minimum number corresponding 
to one State. 

3. The share of the tobacco and alcohol revenue set apart for this 
purpose by law, said share to be distributed in proportion to the pro¬ 
duction and consumption of the States. 

4. The product of the taxes on their natural productions. 

5. The product of stamped paper in accordance with the respective 
laws. 

Twenty-eighth. To delegate in the Congress of the union the power 
to create and organize the revenue referred to in numbers 1, 2, and 3 
of the foregoing base 27. 

Twenty-ninth. To cause political refugees to reside at a certain dis¬ 
tance from the boundaries if so requested by the interested State. 

Title III.— Nationality. 


Section 1 . — Venezuelans. 

Art. 8. Venezuelans are such either by birth or naturalization. 

(a) Venezuelans by birth are: 

T. All persons who have been or may be born on Venezuelan soil; 
and 

2. The children of Venezuelan parents whatever may be the place 
of their birth. 

(b) Venezuelans by naturalization are— 

1. All persons born or that may be born in the Republics of Spanish 
America, provided they have acquired domicile in the Republic and 
shown their wish to become Venezuelans. 

2. Foreigners who have obtained naturalization papers according to 
the laws. 

3. Foreigners who become Venezuelans by virtue of special laws; 
and 

4. Foreign women married to Venezuelans as long as the matrimo¬ 
nial bond is in existence; but if the marriage is dissol ved and they wish 
to retain the Venezuelan nationality they shall be bound to make, within 
one year after the dissolution of the marriage, the declaration to which 
the following article refers. 

Art. 9. The declaration of the wish to become a Venezuelan must 
be made before the principal registrar of the jurisdiction in which the 
person may establish his or her residence, and the former on receiving 
such a declaration shall record it in the respective protocol and shall 
forward a copy of it to the national executive to be published in the 
Official Gazette. 


CONSTITUTION. 


565 

Art. 10. Venezuelan males over twentv-one years of ao*e are elect- 
ors and eligible, subject to no other conditions than those expressed in 
this constitution and the laws. 

Art. 11. All Venezuelans are bound to serve the nation as may be 
provided by law. 

Art. 12. Venezuelans shall enjoy the same rights and shall have 
the same duties through the whole territory of the Republic without 
any other conditions than those established in this constitution. 

Art. 13. The rights and duties of foreigners shall be determined by 

law. 

Art. 14. Foreigners, if taking part in the political disputes of the 
country, shall incur the same responsibilities as Venezuelans, and shall 
be subject to the provisions of item 8 of article 80. 

Art. 15. Neither Venezuelans nor foreigners shall have, in any case, 
the right to claim indemnity of the nation or the States for damages, 
losses, or seizures of property which are not the work of lawful 
authorities acting in their public character. 

Art. 1G. The Government of Venezuela shall not conclude treaties 
with other nations to the detriment of the principles established by 
the two preceding articles. 

Section 2. —The rights of Venezuelans. 

Art. IT. The nation guarantees to Venezuelans: 

1. Inviolability of life, capital punishment being abolished. 

2. The right of property with all its attributes and privileges; 
property shall only T be subject to the taxes levied by the legislative 
authoritiy, to judicial decision, and condemnation for public use after 
previous indemnification under regular proceedings. 

3. Inviolability of correspondence and other private papers, which 
shall not be taken possession of except by order of competent public 
authorities and with the formalities established by law; but always 
respecting the secrecy of domestic and private matters. 

4. Inviolability of domicile, which shall not be trespassed on except 
to prevent the perpetration of crime, and even this has to be done in 
the manner and form provided by law. 

5. Personal liberty, and therefore: 

(1st) Forcible recruiting for the service of arms is abolished, and 
the said service shall be rendered in accordance with the provisions of 
the law. 

(2d) Slavery shall be forever proscribed. 

(3d) Slaves who tread Venezuelan soil shall be free. 

(4th) All shall have the right to do what does not injure another 

person; and 

(5th) Nobody is bound to do what the law does not provide nor be 
prevented from doing what it does not prohibit. 


566 


VENEZUELA. 


6. Freedom of thought expressed by word or by means of the press. 
In cases of libel, the injured party shall have the right to bring the 
offenders before the competent courts of justice according to law. 

7. Freedom of transit without passport, and of change of residence 
on observing the legal formalities. 

8. Liberty of industry; the law, however, may assign a temporal 
privilege to authors of discoveries and productions, and to those who 
may establish an industry that has not been worked in the country. 

9. Freedom of meeting and associating without arms, publicly or 
privately, the authorities not having power to exercise any act of 
coercion. 

10. Freedom of petition; the latter may be filed with any function- 
ary, authority, or corporation, and they shall be compelled to give 
prompt resolution. When the petition is made by several persons the 
first five shall answer for the authenticity of the signatures and all for 
the truth of the facts set forth. 

11. Freedom of suffrage without other restrictions ^han those 
established by this constitution and the laws. 

12. Freedom of teaching. 

13. Religious liberty according to the laws and under the supreme 
inspection of the President of the Republic. 

11. Personal securitv, and therefore: 

(1st) No Venezuelan shall be imprisoned or arrested for debts which 
do not arise from fraud or crime. 

(2d) Nor to be tried by special courts or commissions, but by his 
natural judges and according to preexisting laws. 

(3d) Nor be imprisoned or detained except on summary information 
of having committed a crime which deserves corporal punishment and 
on the written order of the functionary who directs the imprisonment, 
stating the nature thereof, except when caught in fragcmti. 

(1th) Nor be deprived of communication for any reason or pretext. 

(5th) Nor be obliged to take oath, nor to undergo examination in a 
criminal cause against himself, nor against his relatives within the 
fourth degree of consanguinity or second of affinity, nor against his or 
her consort. 

(6th) Nor to remain in prison if the grounds upon which it was 
decreed are destroyed. 

(7th) Nor be condemned to suffer punishment in criminal matters 
except after having been summoned and heard legally; and 

(8th) Nor be condemned to corporal punishment for over fifteen 
years. 

15. Equality. In virtue of which: 

(1st) All must be tried by the very same laws and subject to equal 
duties, service, and taxes. 

(2d) No titles of nobility, honors, and hereditary^ distinctions will be 


CONSTITUTION. 


587 


granted, nor employments or offices the salaries or emoluments of 
which continue after the termination of service; and 

(3d) No other official treatment than u citizen ’’and “you” will he 
given to employes and corporations. 

Art. 18. The foregoing enumeration does not abridge the power of 
the States to grant other rights to their inhabitants. 

Art. 19. These rights and guaranties may be suspended in the cases 
and with the formalities provided by item 8 of article 80 of this 
Constitution. 

Art. 20. Those who should issue, sign, execute, or cause to be exe¬ 
cuted, except in the cases set forth in item 8 of article 80, any decrees, 
orders, or resolutions that violate the guaranties accorded to Vene¬ 
zuelans, are guilt}^ and must be punished according to the law. 

Art. 21. The rights recognized and guaranteed in the foregoing 
articles shall not be lessened or impaired by laws regulating their 
exercise, and all laws violating this principle shall be, as provided in 
item 11 of article 95, unconstitutional and inefficient. 

Title IV.— National Sovereignty and Public Power. 

Art. 22. Sovereignty is vested essentially in the people, who exercise 
it through the public powers. 

Art. 23. The definition of duties and prerogatives establishes the 
limit of public power, and any act not comprised within the limits of 
said definition constitutes an usurpation of prerogatives. 

Art. 21. All usurped authority is inefficient and its acts are null and 
void. 

Art. 25. Decisions reached by direct or indirect use of force or of 
a meeting of the people in a subversive attitude is null by law and 
lacks efficiency. 

Art. 20. The Government of the Union is and shall always be repub¬ 
lican, federal, democratic, elective, representive, alternative, and 
responsible. 

Art. 27. The exercise of public power implies personal responsi¬ 
bility in case it is carried beyond the powers vested bv Congress or for 
violation of the law which organizes its functions according to the 
terms of this constitution. 

Art. 28. Public power is distributed between the Federal power 
and the power of the States within the bounds established by this 
constitution. 

Art. 29. Federal power is divided into legislative, executive, and 
judicial. 

Title V.— Legislative power. 

Section 1. —Legislative power. 

Art. 30. Legislative power is vested in an assembly called “Con- 

o-ress of the United States of Venezuela," consisting of two Chambers, 

# 

one of Senators and another of Deputies. 


VENEZUELA. 


5(>8 


Section 2. — The Chamber of Deputies. 


Art. 31. To form the Chamber of Deputies each State shall elect, 
by direct vote in accordance with the electoral law, one Deputy for each 
forty thousand inhabitants and one more for an excess of twenty thou¬ 
sand. The State whose population does not reach forty thousand 
inhabitants shall elect one Deputy. In the same manner it shall elect 
the same number of alternates as of principals to till the vacancies .that 
may occur in the order of their election. 

Sole section. The Deputies shall hold otiice for six years. 

Art. 32. The Deputies must be natural-born citizens of Venezuela 
and not less than twenty-one years of age. 

Art. 33. The Federal District and Federal Territories which have 
or may have the basis of population established in article 31 shall 
likewise elect their Deputies by direct vote with the formalities pro¬ 
vided by law. 

Sole section. Unsubdued aborigines are not computed as forming a 
basis of population. 

Art. 3d. The House of Deputies has power: 

(1) To issue a vote of censure against any cabinet minister, and by 
this fact the position is vacated. 

(2) To appoint, within the first fifteen days of its installation, dur¬ 
ing the first year of the corresponding period the attorney-general of 
the nation and two alternates, in successive votes and by absolute 
majority. These officials shall be legally sworn in before the supreme 
federal court to discharge their functions, which shall be determined 
by law; and 

(3) All the others which the law may specify' 


Section 3. —The Senate. 

Art. 35. To form this Chamber the legislative assembly of each 
State shall elect, outside its number, two principal Senators and two 
alternate's to fill their vacancies, according to the order of election. 

Sole section. Senators are appointed for a term of six years. 

Art. 36. Senators must be natural-born citizens of Venezuela and 
not less than thirty years old. 

Art. 37. The Senate has power: 

(1) To grant to distinguished Venezuelans twenty-five years after 
death the honor of having their mortal remains deposited in the 
national pantheon. 

(2) lo give or withhold its consent to national functionaries for 
admitting gifts, commissions, honors, and rewards from foreign coun¬ 
tries; and 

(3) The others that the law may provide. 


CONSTITUTION. 


5<>D 


Section 4 .--Provisions common to both Chambers. 

Art. 38. The Legislative Chambers will meet every two years in 
the capital of the Union on the 23d day of May, or as soon thereafter as 
possible, without the necessity of previous convocation. The sessions 
shall last for ninety days, and this period shall not be extended. 

Art. 39. The Cham! >ers shall lie called to order with at least two- 
thirds of their number, and in default of this number those present 
shall assemble in preparatory commission and adopt measures for the 
concurrence of the absentees. 

Art. 40. The sessions having been opened, they may be continued 
with the attendance of the absolute majority of all the members elected. 

Art. 41. The Chambers shall act separately, and they may assemble 
in Congress when so provided by the Constitution and laws or when 
one of the two Chambers may deem it necessary. If the Chamber that 
is invited agrees to it, it is the latter which fixes the day and hour of 
the joint session. 

Art. 42. The sessions shall be public, but they may be secret when 
so decided by the Chamber. 

Art. 43. The Chambers have the right: 

(1) To make their own rules to regulate the debates and to correct 
infractors. 

% 

(2) To keep a police force in the building in which their meetings 
are held. 

(3) To punish spectators who create disorder. 

(4) To remove the obstacles that may be opposed to the free exer¬ 
cise of their functions. 

(5) To enforce their own resolutions; and 

(6) To judge of the qualifications of their members and to consider 
their resignations. 

Art. 44. The Chambers shall hold their sessions in the same city 
and shall close them on the same day, and neither one nor the other 
can suspend them or change their residence without the consent of the 
other. In case of disagreement they shall meet in congress and exe¬ 
cute what the latter ma} T resolve. 

Art. 45. The exercise of any other public function during its ses¬ 
sions is incompatible with those of a Senator or Deputy. The law 
shall fix the salaries that the members of the national legislature shall 
receive for their services, w hich salaries shall not be increased except 
for the following term. 

Art. 46. Senators and Deputies shall enjoy immunity from thirty 
days previous to the 23d of May until thirty days after the close of 
the sessions; and the immunity consists in the suspension of all civil 
or criminal proceedings, whatever may be their oiigin oi natuie. II 
anyone should commit an offense deserving corporal punishment the 


570 


VENEZUELA. 


investigation shall continue until the case is ready for trial, and no 
further steps shall be taken so long as the period of immunity lasts. 

Art. 47. The Chambers shall have no power in any case to allow 
the immunity provided for in the preceding article to be violated in 
regard to any of its members. Magistrates, authorities, corporations, 
or their agents which may deprive a Senator or Deputy of their liberty 
during the enjoyment of their immunity shall be committed for trial 
before the competent judicial authority, and they may be accused by 
any citizen to this effect, by which fact they are removed from office 
without prejudice of the penalties provided by law for infringement 
of the constitution. 

Art. 48. Congress shall be presided over by the President of the 
Senate, and the presiding officer of the Chamber of Deputies will act as 
Vice-President. 

Art. 49. The members of the Chambers are not responsible for 
their vote or the opinions they express in session. 

Art. 50. Senators and Deputies cannot enter into personal contracts 
or for a third party with the national executive, nor conduct the 
prosecution of claims of others against it. 

Art. 51. When through death or any other cause producing abso¬ 
lute vacancy the number of alternates from a State in the Senate has 
been exhausted or reduced below the rate corresponding to it, the 
respective Legislative Assembly shall till the vacancy for the balance of 
the time which the member or members, alternate or alternates, had 
still to serve. In regard to vacancies occurring in the Chamber of 
Deputies the constitutions of the States shall determine the manner to 
till them. 

Section 5. —Powers rested in Congress. 

Art. 52. The powers vested in the Congress of the United States 
of Venezuela are: 

(1) To take cognizance of the resignations of the President and 
Vice-Presidents of the Republic; 

(2) To examine, approve or disapprove the accounts that must be 
submitted to it by the Cabinet Ministers in conformity with Article 
86 of this Constitution; 

(3) To enact the organic and electoral laws of the Federal District 
and Federal Territories. In the Federal District the law shall pro¬ 
claim the autonomy of the Municipality in economical and executive 
matters and shall determine how it shall discharge its power in con¬ 
formity with the provisions of this constitution, so as to avoid con¬ 
flicts with the liberty of political action of the high Federal Powers 
residing therein. In case of war its first civil and political authority 
shall assume the administration of all the mentioned branches; 

(4) To raise to the condition of States the Federal Territories which 


CONSTITUTION. 


571 


may ask for it, provided that the conditions of Article 4 of this con¬ 
stitution be complied with; 

(5) To lay and collect the national taxes; 

(6) To sanction the National Codes according* to item 16 of Article 
7 of this constitution and the Federal Code of Public Instruction, the 
Fiscal and Military and Naval Codes and the laws conducive to the 
organization of the National Militia; 

(7) To fix the standard, value, fineness, weight, and coinage of the 
national money, provided that it be on a gold basis, and decide con¬ 
cerning the admission and circulation of foreign currency; 

(8) To create, abolish, and fix the salaries of national offices; 

(9) To determine everything relative to the national debt and its 
interest; 

(10) To make loans on the credit of the nation; 

(11) To decree everything relative to statistics and the national cen¬ 
sus, the latter to be taken every ten years; 

(12) To approve or disapprove diplomatic treaties and conventions, 
which without this required approval shall not be valid and will not be 
ratified or exchanged. The law of approval passed by Congress shall 
not be executed until it is known that the treaty has been accepted 
by the other part}*. Treaties shall not be published until they have 
been ratified and exchanged; 

(18) To approve or disapprove contracts of national interest which 
the Federal Executive may conclude; 

(14) To sanction the general budget of public revenue and expendi¬ 
ture; 

(15) To fix the national weights and measures and make them uni¬ 
form; 

(16) To enact all the laws for carrying into execution the powers 
vested bv this constitution in the Federal Powers, as also all others of 
general character which may be necessary; 

(17) To elect the electoral body provided by Article 70 of this con¬ 
stitution; and 

(18) To elect the Supreme Federal Court in conformity with Articles 
91, 92, and 98 of this constitution. 

Art. 58. The acts sanctioned by either of the Legislative Chambers 
of Venezuela, passed separately as collegiate bodies, shall be called 
“ laws ” (leyes), and those sanctioned in Congress assembled, or sepa¬ 
rately, on matters exclusively vested in each Chamber shall be called 
^resolutions (acuerdos). 

Section 6.— Formation of lawn. 

Art. 54. The power to initiate legislation is equally vested in both 
Chambers and can lie exercised by any of their members. 

Art. 55. When a bill has been introduced it shall be read and con¬ 
sidered for the purpose of admission, and if admitted it shall be dis- 


572 


VENEZUELA. 


cussed three times, one day at least intervening between each discussion, 
according* to the rules established for the debates. 

Art. 56. Bills that have been approved in the Chamber in which 
they originated shall be passed to the other Chamber for the purposes 
of the foregoing article, and if they are not disapproved shall be 
returned to the Chamber of origin, with the amendments, if any, 
made to it. 

Art. 57. If the Chamber of origin does not accept the amendments 
it shall have the right to insist upon its own draft, and shall send to 
the other Chamber a statement in writing of its reasons therefor. It 
can also invite the other Chamber to assemble in Congress and decide 
it in a committee of the whole, in order to facilitate an agreement; 
but if this cannot be etfected the bill shall be void, on the Chamber of 
origin resolving separately the ratification of its insistence. 

Art. 58. When bills are passed from one Chamber to the other the 
days on which they have been discussed shall be set forth. 

Art. 59. Bills rejected in the sessions of one year can not be pre¬ 
sented anew, but in those of another year. 

Art. 60. Bills remaining pending in one chamber at the close of the 
sessions shall be submitted in it to the same three discussions in the 
sessions of the following year. 

Art. 61. The enacting clause to be used in the laws shall be as 
follows: 

“The Congress of the United States of Venezuela decrees." 

© 

Art. 62 . A law reforming another law shall be given in full and the 
preceding law shall be repealed in all its parts. 

Art. 63. Laws are repealed with the same formalities established for 
their enactment. 

Art. 6-t. Legislative acts once sanctioned shall be communicated 
in duplicate to the President of the Republic and shall be published 
in the Congressional Record (Diario de Debates) of the Senate and 
shall 1 >e binding as soon as the formalities established in item 1 of 
article 80 of this constitution are fulfilled. The President of the 
Republic, through the minister who countersigns the acts, shall return 
one of the two copies to Congress with the order for its enforcement. 

Sole section. In the publication that shall be made in the Congres¬ 
sional Record, mention shall be made of the date on which the laws 
and decrees have been laid before the President of the Republic, so that 
after the lapse of fifteen days, to which refers the aforesaid item *1 of 
article 80, they may have anyhow their force and vigor. 

Art. 65. That power to legislate vested in Congress can not be 
delegated. 

Art. 66. No legislative provision shall be given retroactive effect, 
except in matters of judicial proceedings and when the new law imposes 
a lesser penalty. 


CONSTITUTION. 


573 


Art. 07. AV lien a cabinet minister has maintained in the chambers 
that a bill is unconstitutional and nevertheless it is passed as a law, the 
attorney-general shall denounce the collision in order that the point 
ma}" be settled, according to article 95. 

Title YI.—The Federal Executive Power. 

Section 1. — The general administration of the Union. 

Art. 68 . Everything concerning the administration of the General 
Government not vested by this constitution in any other authority falls 
under the jurisdiction of the Federal Executive. This power is exer¬ 
cised by a magistrate, who shall be called President of the United 
States of Venezuela, assisted by the cabinet ministers, who are his 
representatives. The President shall he elected in the manner and 
form provided in the following section. 

Art. 69. The functions of the National Executive can not be exer¬ 
cised outside of the Federal District except in the cases described in 
this constitution. 

Section 2.— Flection of the President of the United States of Venezuela. 

Art. 70. There shall be an electoral body consisting of 14 members 
of the National Congress elected by the latter within the first fifteen 
days of its meeting in the first year of each Presidential period, so that 
the body may consist of one representative, either a senator or a dep¬ 
uty, for each one of the political entities and an additional deputy for 
the Federal District. 

Art. 71. On the following da} 7 that Congress has elected the said 
electoral body the latter shall proceed to its organization with the 
number of those present, provided that this number is not less than 
two-thirds of all the members elected to compose the body, and it 
shall select out of their number the one who is to act as chairman. 

Art. 72. The electoral body, as soon as it is organized, shall 
appoint one of the three following days to elect, out of their number 
or elsewhere, in permanent public session, the President of the i nited 
States of Venezuela. This designation shall be published by the press, 
and in order to effect the election at least two-thirds must be present 
of the total number of members composing the electoral body, and 
the one who shall have obtained the absolute majority of said total 
shall be proclaimed elected. The electoral body shall declare its labors 
at an end and the respective act shall be drawn and subscribed by all 
the members, who shall occupy anew their places in the respective 
chambers. 

Sole section. The electoral body, in the same session on which it 
shall elect the President of the United States of Venezuela, shall also 
elect, with the formalities provided for the election of the President 
and with the conditions of the latter, a first and second vice-president 
to fill the former’s temporary or absolute vacancy. 


574 


VENEZUELA. 


Section 3. — The President of the United States of Venezuela. 

Art. 73. The President of the United States of Venezuela shall he 
a natural-horn Venezuelan, over thirty years of age, and prior to 
entering into exercise of his functions shall make before Congress the 
legal promise. 

Sole section. The vice-presidents shall make their legal promise 
before Congress, or, if, it is not in session, before the President of the 
Republic. 

Art. 74. In case of temporary or absolute disability of the President 
the vacancies shall be tilled by a first and a second vice-president, 
according to the order of their election. 

In case the second vice-president takes charge, due to absolute dis¬ 
ability of the President or first vice-president, or if this disability 
occurs during the time he is in charge of the Presidency, he shall con- 
voque immediately the Senate to elect the person who shall replace him. 

Art. 75. The powers originally and exclusively vested in the Pres¬ 
ident of the United States of Venezuela, as such, are the following: 

(1) To appoint and remove the cabinet ministers; 

(2) To receive and welcome the public ministers of other nations; 

(3) To sign the official letters to the sovereigns or chief magistrates 
of other countries; 

(4) To administer the government of the Federal district according 
to law and to act therein as the chief civil and political authority; 

(5) To administer the government of the Federal Territories accord¬ 
ing to their own organic laws; 

(6) To conduct war and command in person the army, or appoint 
some one else to do it; and 

(7) To leave temporarily the capital of the Republic when so 
demanded by matters of public interest, having also the right to with¬ 
draw temporarily from the exercise of his functions, provided he 
calls the person who is to replace him according to this constitution; 
and when the cause which produced the separation lias ceased he shall 
anew take charge, it being only required that he shall so acquaint the 
person who discharges the presidency for the time being. 

Art. 76. The President of the Union shall lay before Congress per¬ 
sonally, or through one of his ministers, within the first ten days of 
the ordinary sessions, a comprehensive message in which he shall 
report his administration and political acts, informing in regard to 
the state of the Republic and indicating the improvements which 
might lie adopted in the legislation in force. 

Art. 77. The President of the United States of Venezuela shall hot 
be reelected for the period immediately following. 

Art. 78. The law shall establish the salary to lie paid to the Pres¬ 
ident of the Republic or to the person who replaces him, which salary 
shall not be increased except in the following constitutional period. 


CONSTITUTION. 


575 


Art. 79. The President of the Republic, or the person who replaces 
him, is responsible for treason or for common offenses. 

Section 4.— Powers vested in the Federal Executive. 

Art. 80. The Federal Executive has power— 

(1) To order the enforcement of this constitution and the laws and 
decrees of the National Congress and see that they arc obeyed and 
enforced and order them published in the Official Gazette within the 
first fifteen days of having received them, except as provided in item 
12 of art. 52; 

(2) To issue decrees or rules for the better execution of the laws 
whenever the latter expressly establish it in their text, taking care not 
to alter the spirit or the reason of the law; 

(8) To convoke Congress to extraordinary session when so demanded 
by the gravity of some matter; 

(4) To organize the array and the national militia according to law; 

(5) To preserve the nation from any foreign attack; 

(6) To declare war; 

(7) To defend the Federal district when there are serious apprehen¬ 
sions that it may be invaded by foreign forces; 

(8) To make use, in cases of foreign war or domestic commotion or 
rebellion in arms against the institutions, having previously declared 
that public order is disturbed, and until the reestablishment of peace, 
of the following faculties: 

A. To ask the States for the necessary aid for the national defense 
of the institutions; 

B. To collect taxes in advance; 

C. To arrest, confine, or expel from the territory of the Republic 
national or foreign individuals who may be contrary to the reestab¬ 
lishment of peace; 

D. To suspend the rights, the exercise of which may be incompatible 
with the defense of the country or the reestablishment of order except 
the inviolability of life; 

E. To fix the place where the general power of fhe Union may be 
established temporarily when serious motives so demand it; 

F. To order the commital for trial for treason of Venezuelans who in 
anv wav may. be hostile to the national defense; and 

G. To issue letters of marque and reprisals. 

(9) To make use of the public force in case that the interposition of 
their good offices proves to be inefficient to put an end to armed conflict 
between two or more States and compel them to depose arms and cause 
their controversies to be decided according to item 25 of art. « of 
this constitution. This power shall also lie exercised in case of 
armed rebellion in any of the States of the Union, after peaceful and 
conciliatory means to reestablish peace and public order are exhausted; 


570 


VENEZUELA. 


(10) To direct the attorney-general of the nation to ask the annull- 
ment of any act violating the bases of the Union and to initiate impeach¬ 
ment proceedings whenever proper; 

(11) To grant amnesties and pardons; 

(12) To negotiate the loans to be contracted b} T order of Congress 
in strict conformity with the law authorizing them; 

(13) To take charge of and superintend the collection of the national 


revenue; 


(14) To manage public lands, mines, salt mines, and the tobacco and 
alcohol revenue according to law; 

(15) To conduct diplomatic negotiations and conclude all kinds of 
treaties with other nations through the diplomatic agents of the 
Republic, submitting said treaties to the national Congress for the 
purposes set forth in item 12 of art. 52; 

(16) To enter into contracts of national interest according to law; 

(17) To regulate the Federal post-office, telegraphic, and telephonic 
services, having power to create or abolish stations or offices which 
may claim these urgent measures, reporting the same to Congress in 
its next meeting; 

(18) To adopt the necessary measures so’that the census of the 
Republic be taken every ten years; 

(19) To issue navigation patents to all national vessels; 

(20) To issue certificates of nationality according to law; 

(21) To allow or forbid the admission of foreigners to the service of 
the Republic; 

(22) To forbid, when so deemed expedient, the admission into the 
national territory or to expulse from it foreigners who have no estab¬ 
lished domicile in the country; 

(23) To prohibit and prevent the ingress into the territory of the 
Republic of foreigners especially devoted to the service of any worship 
or religion, no matter what their order or rank may be; 

(24) To appoint national functionaries whose appointment is not to 
be made by another functionary; 

(25) To remove the functionaries of their free election and direct 
that they may be suspended or tried if there is any reason therefor; 
and 

(26) To discharge all other functions which may be established by 
law. 

Section 5. — The cabinet , ministers . 

Art. 81. The President of the United States of Venezuela shall 
have for his cabinet the ministers which the law may determine. It 
shall establish their functions and duties and shall organize their 
departments. 

Art. 82. To be a cabinet minister it is required to be a natural-born 
Venezuelan over twenty-five years of age. 


CONSTITUTION. 


577 


Art. 83. The ministers are the legal representatives, the only and 
precise ones, of the President of the United States of Venezuela. 
All his acts shall be countersigned by the minister or ministers from 
whose departments the acts may depend, and without which formality 
the}" are void and shall not be obeyed or carried into execution by 
authorities, functionaries, or private persons. 


Art. 84. All the acts of the ministers must be done in accordance 
with this constitution and the laws. An order to the contrary from 
the President of the Republic, even if given in writing, shall not 
exempt them from responsibility. 

Art. 85. The responsibility of those acts of the President which 
must be transacted in cabinet meeting corresponds to the minister who 
countersigned them. 

Art. 86. The ministers shall report to the Chambers every two 
years within the first ten days of their ordinary sessions by means of 
itemized memorials accompanied with documents of what they may 
have effected or pretend to do in their respective branches. They 
shall also give the written or verbal reports which may be asked of 
them, and they shall submit likewise within the first ten days of the 
second month of the sessions of the Chambers the general budget of 
revenues and expenditures and the general account of the two 
preceding years. 

Art. 87. The ministers shall have access to the floor of the Cham¬ 
bers and the right to address them verbally. They shall be bound by 
duty to appear before them when summoned for that purpose. 

Art. 88. Ministers shall be responsible: 

(1) For treason; 

(2) For violation of the constitution and the laws; 

(3) For spending money in excess of the appropriation; 

(4) For bribery in the dispatch of the affairs commended to their 
charge or in the appointment of national functionaries; 

(5) For embezzlement of public funds; and 

(6) For common offenses. 


Title VII. 

Section 1 . —Judicial power. 

Art. 89. The judicial power of the Republic is vested in the supreme 
Federal court and in the other tribunals and courts that may be estab¬ 
lished by law. 

Art. 90. The functionaries of the judicial power are responsible, in 
the cases determined by law, for treason; for bribery in the fulfill¬ 
ment of their functions; for violation of the constitutional laws, and 
for common offenses. 

4 a-04-37 



578 


VENEZUELA. 


Section 2. —Supreme Federal court. 

(Corte Federal y de Casacion.) 

Art. 91. The supreme Federal court is the supreme tribunal of the 
Federation and of the States, and shall consist of seven members 
elected by Congress within the first thirty days of its meeting in the 
first year of each constitutional period. 

Sole sect tori. The members of the supreme Federal court shall be 
natural-born Venezuelans over thirty years of age and lawyers of the 
Republic. 

Art. 92. For the appointment of the members of the supreme Fed¬ 
eral court the. representatives in Congress of the States and of the 
Federal District shall be grouped as hereafter explained, and each 
group shall nominate two candidates out of whom Congress shall 
select the member of the supreme Federal court, who shall represent 
it in each group: 

First group. State of Miranda and Federal District. 

Second group. States of Aragua and Guarico. 

Third group. States of Carabobo and Zamora. 

Fourth group. States of Lara and Falcon. 

Fifth group. States of Tachira and Trujillo. 

Sixth group. States of Merida and Zulia. 

Seventh group. States of Bermudez and Bolivar. 

Art. 93. The supreme Federal court shall be elected by Congress 
by secret vote and in permanent session. 

Sole section. The seven candidates nominated by the groups, who 
are not elected as members of the supreme Federal court, are by this 
very fact to be considered alternates of the respective members. 

Art. 94. The members of the supreme Federal court shall hold 
office for six } T ears and can be reelected. The absolute vacancies of 
principals and alternates shall be filled by Congress, and during its 
recess by the President of the Republic. The court shall be bound to 
give notice to either Congress or the President when a vacancy occurs. 

Art. 95. The supreme Federal court has power: 

(1) To take cognizance of cases of impeachment of the President of 
the Republic or the official acting as such, the cabinet ministers, the 
attorney-general of the nation, the governor of the Federal District, 
and its own members in the cases in which said functionaries are 
responsible according to this constitution. 

(2) To take cognizance of criminal cases or of cases of impeachment 
instituted against the Presidents of the States and other high func¬ 
tionaries of said States, according to the laws thereof, applying, in cases 
of impeachment, the laws of the respective States, and in their default 
the general laws of the nation. 

In the two foregoing cases the court shall decide whether the formal 


CONSTITUTION. 


579 


trial must or must not take place. In the first case the functionary 
shall by this fact be suspended, and in the second case the proceedings 
shall be at once discontinued. A\ hen the offense be a common one the 
case shall pass to the ordinary tribunals, and when it be of a political 
nature the court shall continue to try it until a final sentence. 

(3) To take cognizance of the civil or criminal cases instituted against 
diplomatic agents in the cases allowed b} r the law of nations. 

(I) To take cognizance of cases of impeachment instituted against 
diplomatic agents of the Republic accredited to other countries for 
malfeasance of office. 

(5) To take cognizance, when allowed by law, of civil cases in which 
the nation appears as defendant. 

(6) To take cognizance of the appeal of writ of error in the form 
and terms established by law. 

(T) To take cognizance of the cases of prize. 

(8) To decide, except in the cases established in articles 3 and 126 of 
this constitution, the controversies that may arise between functionaries 
of a political order of different States, between those of one or more 
States and those of the Union or the Federal District, betw r een those 
of the Union among themselves or with those of the Federal District, 
and between tribunals and national functionaries in matters within the 
jurisdiction of the court. 

(9) To decide the conflicts of jurisdiction that may arise between the 
employes or functionaries of the Judicial order of different States and 
between those of the latter with the national and Federal District em¬ 
ployes, and between those of one State or of the Federal District 
whenever there is no other authority especially called upon to decide 
them; 

(10) To declare the invalidity of national laws or of the States when 
the} T are in conflict with the constitution of the Republic; 

(II) To declare which shall be the law in force when the national ones 
are in conflict among themselves or these with those of the States; 

(12) To declare the invalidity of all the acts of the Legislative 
Chamber or of the Federal Executive when violating the rights guar¬ 
anteed to the States or attacking their autonomy; 

(13) To declare the invalidity of all the acts to which refer articles 
2d and 25 of this constitution, provided they have been issued by a 
national authority or of the Federal District or by high functionaries 
of the States; 

(11) To take cognizance of all the controversies arising out of con¬ 
tracts or negotiations concluded by the President of the Republic; 

(15) To decide, subject to the stipulations contained in public treaties, 
when and in which cases foreign judgments can be enforced, in accord¬ 
ance with the conditions established by law; and 


580 


VENEZUELA. 


(16) The other powers that may be granted by this Constitution and 
the laws. 

Art. 96. The Supreme Federal Court shall render account every 
two }^ears to the National Congress regarding its labors, and at the 
same time shall inform it of the obstacles which, in their opinion, are 
opposed to the uniformity of civil, criminal, and commercial legis¬ 
lation. 

Art. 97. The members of the Supreme Federal Court who have 
begun to discharge their functions, and during the time they are dis¬ 
charging them, shall not accept any office depending from the Federal 
Executive. 

Art. 98. The law shall determine the salaries to be paid to the mem¬ 
bers of the Supreme Federal Court. 


Section 3. — The Attorney-General of the Nation. 


Art. 99. The Prosecution Branch of the Government is entrusted 
to the Attorney-General of the Nation according to law. 

Art. 100. To be Attorney-General of the Nation it is required to 
be a natural-born Yenezuelan over 30 years of age and a lawyer of the 
Republic. 

Art. 101. The Attorney-General of the Nation shall hold office for 
two years, and can be reelected, and his temporal or absolute vacan¬ 
cies shall be filled by two alternates in the order of their election. 

Art. 102. The Attorney-General has power: 

(1) To secure the enforcement of the laws and executive orders. 

(2) To give his opinion in matters of law when so requested by 
the Federal Executive and the Supreme Federal Court; 

(3) To take care that nil the federal functionaries fulfill their duty; 

(1) To bring charges in behalf of the President of the Republic 

before the competent authority against the federal functionaries for 
nonfulfillment of their official duties, making them, therefore, respon¬ 
sible; 

(5) To act as prosecuting officer in the cases referred to in Items 1, 
2, I, and 5 of article 95 of this Constitution; 

(6) To report to the President of the Republic the action taken by 
him in the fulfillment of his duties, as specified in Items 1, 3, and 4 of 
this same article; 

(7) To appear in the name of the Nation in the cases in which the 
latter has an interest and defend her rights in the actions or claims 
brought against her, acting in either case in accordance with the 
instructions given him by the Federal Executive; and 

(8) To fulfill all the other duties assigned to him by the constitution 
and laws. 


CONSTITUTION. 


581 


Title Ylll.— General Dispositions. 

Art. 103. All that is not expressly ascribed in this constitution to 
the General Administration of the Nation shall remain within the juris¬ 
dictional powers of the States. The latter shall determine, in their 
respective constitutions, that the constitutional periods of their public 
powers be of three years, beginning on the first of January, 1905. 

Art. 104. Every magistrate, authority, or corporation is debarred 
from the exercise of any function which has not been especially 
ascribed to him by the constitutional laws. 

Art. 105. The courts of justice in the States are independent. The 
cases and causes instituted before them shall be ended within the same 
States, subject to no other revision than that of the Supreme Federal 
Court in the cases provided by law. 

Art. 106. Any acts of the Legislative Chambers or of the Federal 
Executive violating rights guaranteed to the States or impairing their 
autonomy shall be nullified by the Supreme Federal Court in use of 
the powers given it in Item 12 of article 95. 

Art. 107. The public national force is divided into naval and land 
forces and shall consist of the militia that may he organized by law. 

Art. 108. The public force in charge of the National Power shall 
consist of a number of men to be furnished by each State in propor¬ 
tion to its population selected among those who, according to law, must 
render this service. 

Art. 109. In case of war this contingent may be increased by calling 
the militia until completing the number of men necessary to fill the 
demand of the National Government. 

Art. 110. Military and civil authority shall never be exercised 
simultaneously b} r one and the same person or corporation except in 
the cases of disturbance of the public order. 

Art. 111. The Nation being, as it is, in possession of the right of 
ecclesiastic patronate, shall exercise it according to the provisions of 
the law of July 28, 1824. 

Art. 112. The National Government shall not have in the States 
other functionaries residing there with jurisdiction or authority but 
the employes of the same States. Are excepted the finance employes; 
those of public instruction; those which may be required according to 
the organization that Congress may give to mines, public lands, salt 
mines, and tobacco and alcohol tax according to the power vested by 
Item 28 of article 7 of this constitution, and others of the forces which 
may be destined to guard the frontiers and those in cliaige of foi- 
tresses, parks, naval stations, and open ports, who shall have juiisdic- 
tion only in regard to their respective functions and within the limits 
of fortresses and armories, naval stations, and open ports; although 
they are subject to the general laws of the State in which they reside 


582 


VENEZUELA. 


and subject to be immediately removed or replaced by the Federal 
Executive or by whom corresponds on demand of the respective 
government of the State for sufficient legal reason. 

Art. 113. National employes shall not receive gifts, commissions, 
honors, and compensations from foreign countries without the con¬ 
sent of the Senate. 

Art. lid. All war material belongs to the nation. 

Art. 115. Every citizen shall have power to proffer charges against 
national employes and employes of the States before the tribunals or 
superior authorities which the laws may designate. 

Art. 116. No payment shall be made by the national treasury 
which is not expressly authorized by an item in the general appro¬ 
priation bill, and whoever violates this provision shall be held civilly 
responsible to the national treasury for the amounts paid. In mak¬ 
ing payments ordinary expenditures shall be given preference over 
extraordinary expenses. 

Art. 117. Neither the legislative power nor any authority of the 
Republic shall, under any circumstances whatever, nor for any reason, 
issue paper money nor declare bank notes as legal tender nor any 
value represented in paper. Neither can there be decreed any coin¬ 
age of silver or nickel money without previous authority from the 
National Congress given with the same formalities established to sanc¬ 
tion laws. 

Art. 11S. The offices for the collection of national taxes and the 
disbursing offices shall alwa} T s be separate. The former shall pay 
nothing except the salaries of their own employes. 

Art. 119. At election time the national public force and that of the 
States shall be kept within the armories. 

Art. 120. In international treaties a clause shall be inserted to the 
effect that u all differences between the contracting parties shall be decided 
by arbitration without appeal to war." 

Art. 121. No person shall hold, at the same time, more than one 
paid office depending from Congress or the Federal Executive. The 
acceptance of any second office whatever is considered as equivalent 
to the resignation of the first. From this disposition are excepted 
the employes of public instruction. 

Art. 122. Armed force can not deliberate—it is passive and obedient. 
No armed force can make requisitions or demand aid of any kind 
whatever, but to civil authorities, and in the manner and form deter¬ 
mined by law. Chiefs of forces violating this provision shall be tried 
and punished according to the law. 

Art. 123. A law shall regulate the manner in which national 
employes, on taking possession of their offices, are to make oath for 
the compliance of their duties. 

Art. 121. No contract of public interest concluded by the Federal 


CONSTITUTION. 


583 


Government, or by that of the States, by municipalities, or by any 
other public power, shall be transferred in whole or in part to any 
foreign government, and in all contracts the following clause shall lie 
included, and if omitted it shall be considered as included. 


viz: 


The 

doubts and controversies of any nature that may arise in regard to this 
contract , and which can not he amicably settled by the contracting par¬ 
ties, shall he decided by the competent tribunals of Venezuela in con¬ 
formity with its laws , and shall not in any case he made the cause for 
international claimsV All companies to be formed for the execution 
of said contracts shall be Venezuelan, and for this reason shall estab¬ 
lish their legal domicile in the country. 

Art. 125. The law of nations forms part of the national legislation, 
but its provisions shall not be invoked when they are opposed to the 
constitution and laws of the Republic. 

Art. 126. The controversies existing between the districts on account 
of their limits and those which in the future may arise due to the same 
cause shall be submitted by the respective States for decision to a corn t 
of arbitration of the free appointment of the Federal Executive. 

Art. 127. This Constitution is liable to amendments and additions, 
but neither one nor the other shall be decreed by the National Con¬ 
gress except in ordinary sessions, and when so desired by three-fourths 
of the legislative assemblies of the States in ordinary session. 

Art. 128. Amendments or additions to the constitution shall be 
made with the same formalities established to sanction laws. 

Art. 129. When the amendment or addition has been agreed upon 
by the National Congress its president shall submit it to the legislative 
assemblies of the States for their final ratification. 

Art. 130. Congress can likewise take the initiative in amendments 
or additions and agree to them with the same formalities set down in 
the foregoing article, but in this case they shall not be considered as 
sanctioned without the ratification of three-fourths of the legislative 
assemblies of the States. 

Art. 131 . If legislative assemblies of the States or the legislative 
chambers initiate amendments or additions the final vote of the States 
shall revert always to the National Congress, which is the one called 
upon to count the votes and to order the promulgation of the amend¬ 
ment or addition if it is sanctioned. 

Art. 132. Constitutional periods of the Federal power shall last six 

years from the 23rd day of May, 1905. 

Art. 133. At the conclusion of each period, and precisely on May 
23rd, the President of the United States of Venezuela shall cease in the 
exercise of his functions and the minister of interior relations shall 
enter into the discharge of the Presidency of the Republic for the 
effects of the transmission of power. 


584 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 134. For all the acts of the civil and political life of the State* 
the basis of population shall be that determined by the last census of 
the Republic approved by Congress. N 

Art. 135. In all public acts and official documents of the nation and 
of the States mention shall be made of the date of the Independence 
from July 5, 1811, and that of the Federation from February 20,1859. 

Art. 136. The present constitution, signed b} T all the members of 
the Constituent Congress who are in this capital, and with the u Be it 
executed 51 of the Federal Executive, shall be immediately promulgated 
in the Federal district and in the States and Territories of the Union 
as soon as received there. 

Art. 137. The constitution of March 29, 1901, is hereby repealed. 

Given in the Legislative Federal Palace, in Caracas, on the twenty- 
seventh day of April, nineteen hundred and four, 93rd } T ear of the 
Independence and 46 of the Federation. 

(Here follow the signatures of the presidents, vice-presidents, and 
second vice-presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, 
together with those of the senators and deputies of the various States, 
followed b} r those of the President of the Republic and the ministers 
of his Cabinet.) 


BRITISH, GERMAN, AND ITALIAN PROTOCOLS. 


BRITISH PROTOCOL. 


Whereas certain differences have arisen between the United States 
of \ enezuela and Great Britain in connection with the claims of 
British subjects against the Venezuelan Government, the undersigned, 
Mr. Herbert W. Bowen, duly authorized thereto b} r the Government 
of Venezuela, and his excellency the Right Hon. Sir Michael H. 
Herbert, K. C., M. G., C. B., His Britannic Majesty's ambassador 
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States of America, 
have agreed as follows: 

Article I. The Venezuelan Government declare that they recog¬ 
nize in principle the justice of the claims which have been preferred 
by His Majesty's Government on behalf of British subjects. 

Art. II. The Venezuelan Government will satisfy at once, oy pay¬ 
ment in cash or its equivalent, the claims of British subjects, which 
amount to about five thousand live hundred pounds (=£5,500) arising 
out of the seizure and plundering of British vessels and the outrages 
on their crews and the maltreatment and false imprisonment of British 
subjects. 

Art. III. The Venezuelan and British Governments agree that the 
other British claims, including claims by British subjects other than 
those dealt with in Article VI hereof, and including those preferred 
by the railway companies, shall, unless otherwise satisfied, be referred 
to a mixed commission constituted in the manner defined in Article 
IV of this protocol, and which shall examine the claims and decide 
upon the amount to be awarded in satisfaction of each claim. 

The Venezuelan Government admit their liability in cases where the 
claim is for injury to or wrongful seizure of property, and conse¬ 
quently the questions which the mixed commission will have to decide 
in such cases will only be (a) whether the injury took place and 
whether the seizure was wrongful, and (Z>), if so, what amount of 
compensation is due. 

In other cases the claims shall be referred to the mixed commission 
without reservation. 

Art. IV. The mixed commission shall consist of one Venezuelan 
member and one British member. In each case where they come to 
an agreement their decision shall he final. In cases of disagreement 
the claims shall be referred to the decision of an umpire nominated by 
the President of the United States of America. 


585 


586 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. V. The Venezuelan Government, being unwilling to provide a 
sum sufficient for the payment within a reasonable time of the claims 
specified in Article III and similar claims preferred by other govern¬ 
ments, undertake to assign to the British Government, commencing 
the 1st day of March, 1903, for this purpose and to alienate to no other 
purpose, 30 per cent in monthly payments of the customs revenues of 
La Guaira and Puerto Cabello. 

In the case of failure to carry out this undertaking Belgian officials 
shall be placed in charge of the customs of the two ports and shall 
administer them until the liabilities of the Venezuelan Government in 
respect of the above claims shall have been discharged. 

An} r question as to the distribution of the customs revenues so to be 
assigned and as to the rights of Great Britain, Germany, and Italy .to 
a separate settlement of their claims shall be determined, in default of 
arrangement, b}^ the tribunal at The Hague, to which any other power 
interested may appeal. 

Pending the decision of The Hague tribunal, the said 30 per cent of 
the receipts of the customs of the ports of La Guaira and Puerto 
Cabello are to be paid over to the representatives of the Bank of Eng¬ 
land at Caracas. 

Art. VI. The Venezuelan Government further undertake to enter 
into a fresh arrangement respecting the external debt of Venezuela, 
with a view to the satisfaction of the claims of the bondholders. This 
arrangement shall include a definition of the sources from which the 
necessary payments are to be provided. 

Art. VII. The Venezuelan and British Governments agree that, 
inasmuch as it may be contended that the establishment of a blockade 
of Venezuelan ports by the British naval forces has ipso facto created 
a state of war between Venezuela and Great Britain, and that any 
treaty existing between the two countries has been thereby abrogated, 
it shall be recorded in an exchange of notes between the undersigned 
that the convention between Venezuela and Great Britain of October 
22, 1834, which adopted and confirmed mutatis mutandis the treaty of 
April 18, 1825, between Great Britain and the State of Colombia, shall 
be deemed to be renewed and confirmed, or provisionally renewed and 
confirmed, pending conclusion of a new treaty of amity and commerce. 

Art. VIII. Immediately upon the signature of this protocol arrange¬ 
ments will be made by His Majesty’s Government, in concert with the 
Governments of Germany and Italy, to raise the blockade of the Ven¬ 
ezuelan ports. 

His Majesty’s Government will be prepared to restore the vessels 
of the Venezuelan navy which have been seized and, further, to release 
any other vessels captured under the Venezuelan flag on the receipt of 
a guarantee from the Venezuelan Government that they will hold His 


GERMAN PROTOCOL. 


587 


Majesty's Government indemnified in respect of any proceedings which 
might be taken against them by the owners of such ships or of goods 
on board them. 

Art. IX. The treaty of amity and commerce of October 29, 1834, 
having been confirmed in accordance with the terms of Article VII of 
this protocol, the Government of Venezuela will be happy to renew 
diplomatic relations with His Majesty’s Government. 

Done in duplicate at Washington this 13th day of February, 1903. 

Herbert W. Bowen. 

Michael 11. Herbert. 


GERMAN PROTOCOL. 


Whereas differences have arisen between the United States of Vene¬ 
zuela and Germany through the claims of German subjects against the 
Government of Venezuela, the undersigned, Mr. Herbert W. Bowen, 
duly authorized bv the Government of Venezuela, and Baron Speck 
von Sternberg, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of 
His Imperial German Majesty, duly authorized by the Imperial Ger¬ 
man Government, have agreed as follows: 

Article 1 . The Venezuelan Government recognizes in principle 
the justice of the claims of German subjects presented by the Impe¬ 
rial German Government. 

Art. 2. The German claims, which had their origin in the civil 
wars of Venezuela of 1898 to 1900, amount to B. 1,718,815.67. Of 
this sum the Government of Venezuela undertakes to pay immediately 
in cash money the sum of £5,500—B. 137,500—(live thousand five 
hundred pounds sterling, or, say, one hundred and thirty-seven thou¬ 
sand live hundred bolivars) and to settle the balance by means of five 
letters of exchange, payable on the 15th of March, the 15th of April, 
the 15th of Mav, the 15th of June, and the 15th of July, 1903, to the 
Imperial German envoy in Caracas, which shall be drawn immediately 
by Mr. Bowen and delivered to Baron Sternberg. In case the Gov¬ 
ernment of Venezuela should fail to satisfy these drafts, the payment 
shall be made of the entries of the customs of La Guaira and Puerto 
Cabello, whose administration at both ports shall be placed in charge 
of Belgian functionaries until the complete payment of the said debts. 

Art. 3. The German claims which are not mentioned in articles 2 
and 6, also all those arising from the civil war now raging in Vene¬ 
zuela, and those of the Great Venezuelan Railroad Company against 
the Venezuelan Government for passenger and goods freight, and also 
the claims of Engineer Carl Henckei, of Hamburg, and of the Limited 
Company of Benton and Mxmierban, of Berlin, foi the constiuction of 
the Caracas slaughterhouse shall be submitted to a mixed commis¬ 
sion. This commission shall decide the point whether the different 


588 


VENEZUELA, 


claims are well and solidly founded, and also their amount. In the 
claims for damages or illegal seizure of property the Government of 
Venezuela recognizes its responsibility in principle, and consequently 
the commission will not have to decide the question of responsibility, 
but only that of whether the damages or seizures were unjust acts, and 
what compensation should be paid for them. 

Art. 4. The mixed commission mentioned in article 3 will meet in 
Caracas. It shall consist of one member to be named bv the Govern- 
merit of Venezuela and another by the Imperial German Government. 
The appointments must be made by the 1st of May, 1903. In case 
both members shall agree on the claims presented their decisions shall 
be definitive. In case of disagreement they shall be submitted to the 
award of a third party, who shall be appointed by the President of the 
United States of America. 

Art. 5. In order to satisfy the claims specified in article 3, and also 
those of the same class presented by other nations, the Government of 
Venezuela shall transmit to the representative of the Bank of England 
in Caracas, in monthly installments commencing from the 1st of March, 
1903, thirty per cent of the customs receipts of La Guaira and Puerto 
Cabello, which shall not be appropriated to any other purpose. If the 
Government of Venezuela should fail to comply with this obligation, 
the administration of the customs at both ports shall be placed in the 
charge of Belgian functionaries until the above-mentioned claims are 
complete!} 7 satisfied. 

Whatever questions should arise as to the distribution of the cus¬ 
toms receipts specified in the preceding article, and also as to the rights 
of Germany, Great Britain, and Italy for payment of their claims sep¬ 
arately, shall be settled, in the absence of other arrangements, by The 
Permanent Tribunal of Arbitration of The Hague. All the other 
nations interested may take part in the arbitration proceedings as liti¬ 
gants against the three mentioned powers. 

Art. 6 . The Government of Venezuela undertakes to make a new 
and satisfactory arrangement for the simultaneous payment of the 
Venezuelan 5 per cent loan of 1896, and of all the foreign debt. In 
this arrangement shall be mentioned what receipts of the State shall be 
appropriated to the service of the debt, without prejudice to existing 
obligations. 

Art. 7. The Venezuelan war ships and merchant ships captured by 
the naval forces of Germany shall be returned to the Government of 
Venezuela. No claim shall be made for loss and damages arising from 
the capture and detention of the said ships. Nor shall any indemnity 
be granted for their injury or destruction. 

Art. 8. As soon as this protocol is signed the Imperial German 
Government, in accord with the Governments of Great Britain and 
Italy, will raise the blockade of the Venezuelan ports. Diplomatic rela- 


ITALIAN PROTOCOL. 589 

tions will also be renewed between the Imperial German Government 
and that of Venezuela. 

Made in duplicate in English and German this 13th day of February, 
1903. 

Herbert W. Bowen, j 
H. Sternberg. 

ITALIAN PROTOCOL. 


Wher eas certain differences have arisen between Italy and the 
United States of Venezuela owing to Italian claims against the Gov¬ 
ernment of Venezuela, Mr. Herbert W. Bowen, thereto authorized b} r 
the Government of Venezuela, and His Excellency the noble Edmund 
Mayor des Planches, commander of the Orders of Saints Maurice and 
Lazarus and of the Crown of Italy, ambassador extraordinary and 
minister plenipotentiaiy of His Majesty the King of Italy near the 
United States of America, have agreed as follows: 

Article 1 . The Government of Venezuela declares that it recog¬ 
nizes in principle the justice of the claims presented the Govern¬ 
ment of His Majesty in the name of Italian subjects. 

Art. 2. The Government of Venezuela agrees to pay to the Italian 
Government in satisfaction of the point of honor the sum of (£5,500) 
five thousand five hundred pounds, or its equivalent, which sum must 
be satisfied within sixty days. 

Art. 3. The Government of Venezuela recognizes, accepts, and will 
pay the amount of the Italian claims of the first class, arising out of 
the revolutions of 1898-1900, amounting to 2,810,255 (two millions 
eight hundred and ten thousand two hundred and fifty-five) bolivars. 

It expressly agrees that the payment of the total amount of the said 
Italian claims of the first class shall be effected without the said claims 
or the said sum being submitted to the mixed commission, and without 
any revision or objection. 

Art. 1. The Government of Italy and that of Venezuela agree that 
all the Italian claims without exception, other than those treated of in 
article 7 of this protocol, unless satisfied in some other way, shall be 
submitted to a mixed commission, which shall be constituted as soon 
as possible, in the manner prescribed by article 6 of the protocol, 
which shall examine the cases and shall decide on the sum which shall 
be appointed for payment of each claim. 

The Government of Venezuela recognizes its responsibility in the 
cases in which the claim is founded on injury caused to property by 
unjust seizure thereof, and consequently the questions on which the 
Mixed Commission will have to decide shall be only: 

(a) If there was damage, or if the seizure was unjust. 

(£) If this was, what is the amount of compensation due. 

In other cases the claims shall be referred to the Mixed Commission 
unconditionally. 


590 


VENEZUELA. 


Art. 5. As the Government of Venezuela desires to appropriate a 
sufficient sum for the payment, within a reasonable time, of the claims 
specified in articles 3 and I, and of those of the same kind presented 
by other governments, it binds itself for this purpose to cede to the 
Government of Italy, beginning from the 1st of March, 1903, 30 per 
cent of the customs receipts of La Guaira and Puerto Cabello which 
shall not have been appropriated to other purposes. In case of non- 
compliance with this undertaking and obligation the administration of 
the customs of the said ports shall be placed in charge of Belgian 
functionaries, who shall administer the same during the continuance of 
the responsibility of the Government of Venezuela with respect to the 
said claims. Whatever question shall arise as to the distribution of 
the customs receipts granted in this manner and as to the rights of 
Italy, Great Britain, and Germany to a separate adjustment of their 
claims shall be determined, in the absence of other arrangements, by 
the Tribunal of The Hague, to which all other interested powers may 
appeal. While the award of the Tribunal of The Hague is pending, 
the said 30 per cent of the customs receipts of La Guaira and Puerto 
Cabello shall be delivered to the representatives of the Bank of Eng¬ 
land in Caracas. 

Art. 6 . The Mixed Commission shall consist of an Italian member 
and a Venezuelan member. 

In every case in which they come to an agreement their award shall 
be final. In case of disagreement their claims shall be submitted to a 
third member named by the President of the United States of North 
America. 

Art. 7. The Government of Venezuela also undertakes to negotiate 
a new arrangement with respect to the foreign debt of Venezuela for 
the purpose of satisfying the claims of the bondholders. 

This agreement shall include the specification of the sources from 
which the necessary payments shall be made. 

Art. 8 . The treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation of the 
19th of June, 1861, between Italy and Venezuela shall be renewed and 
confirmed. Nevertheless the two Governments especially agree that 
the interpretation which shall be given to articles 4 and 26 is the fol¬ 
lowing: “According to article 1, Italians in Venezuela and Vene¬ 
zuelans in Italy shall in no case receive a less favorable treatment than 
that granted to nationals, and according to article 26, Italians in Ven¬ 
ezuela and Venezuelans in Italy have the right to enjoy in every matter, 
and especially in the matter of claims, the treatment of the most favored 
nation, as is stipulated in the said mentioned article 26.” 

In case of doubt or conflict between the said articles No. 26 shall be 
applied. 

It is likewise specially agreed that the said treaty shall never be 
invoked against the provisions of the present protocol. 


ACTION of vp:nezuelan congress. 


591 


Art. 9. Immediately after the signature of this protocol His Maj¬ 
esty s Government will take the necessar} 7- steps, in accord with the 
Governments of Germany and Great Britain, to raise the blockade of 
the ports of Venezuela. 

His Majesty's Government is disposed to restore the Venezuelan 
war ships which have been seized; also to liberate whatever ships bear¬ 
ing the Venezuelan flag have been captured during the blockade. 

The Government of Venezuela undertakes by this instrument and 
guarantees that the Italian Government shall be entirely free and 
exempt from any claim whatsoever or demand of any kind which may 
be brought, whether by Venezuelan citizens or corporations, or b} T citi¬ 
zens or corporations of other countries, owing to the detention, seiz¬ 
ure, or destruction of ships or merchandise on board thereof, which 
may have been or may be detained, captured, or destroyed owing to 
the blockade established and maintained by the three allied powers 
against the Republic of Venezuela. 

Art. 10. The treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation of the 
19th of June, 1861, having been renewed and confirmed, according to 
the terms of article 8 of this protocol llis Majesty’s Government 
declares that it will be ready to reestablish regular diplomatic relations 
with the Government of Venezuela. 

Washington, D. C., 13tli February, 1903. 

Herbert W. Bowen. 

E. Mayor des Planches. 


VENEZUELAN CONGRESS’ ACTION ON PROTOCOLS. 

The Congress of the United States of Venezuela: 

Whereas the protocols signed in Washington on February 13, last, 
by the agent of Venezuela and the representatives of Germany, Great 
Britain, and Italy were adjusted and signed under a condition of stress 
created to the Republic in an unforeseen and abnormal manner; 

Whereas such documents can not, therefore, be considered and 
examined in the manner established for diplomatic negotiations, com¬ 
menced, pursued, and brought to an end in a regulai * way; 

Resolves to lay aside in regard to the aforesaid protocols the con¬ 
stitutional procedure regarding diplomatic treaties and confine its 
action in regard to them to empower the Federal Executive to put 
them in practice, with the proviso that none of their clauses shall 
establish the least precedent in the political existence of the Republic. 

Given at the Federal legislative palace of Caracas on the 28th day 
of March, 1903—92nd year of the independence and 45th of the feder¬ 
ation. The president of the Senate: J. A. Velutini. The president 
of the Chamber of Deputies: Ramon Ayala. The secretary of the 
Senate: Ezequiel Garcia. The secretary of the Chamber of Deputies: 
M. Silva Medina. 


592 


VENEZUELA. 


The Congress of the United States of Venezuela: 

Whereas, in the protocol signed with Italy on February 13 last, 
the interpretation given to the treaty of June 19, 1861, and the ampli¬ 
fication or alteration of some of its clauses, renders the continuance of 
said compact impossible, inasmuch as it is in flagrant contradiction 
with some of its primary provisions and with principles which by vir¬ 
tue of it were being observed by both parties; 

Resolves to ask the Federal Executive to avail itself, within the 
shortest term possible, of the right provided b} T art. 28 of said treaty 
regarding its denouncement. 

Given at the Federal Legislative Palace of Caracas on the 28th day 
of March, 1903—92nd year of the independence and 45th of the 
federation. The President of the Senate: J. A. Velutini. The 
President of the Chamber of Deputies: Ram6n Ayala. The Secretary 
of the Senate: Ezequiel Gaiicia. The Secretary of the Chamber of 
Deputies: M. Silva Medina. 

HAGUE PROTOCOLS. 

UNITED STATES PROTOCOL. 

Protocol of an agreement between the Secretary of State of the United 
States of Am er ica and the plenipotentiary of the Republic of Vene¬ 
zuela for submission to arbitration of all unsettled claims of citizens 
of the United States of America against the Republic of Venezuela. 

The United States of America and the Republic of Venezuela, 
through their representatives, John Hay, Secretary of State of the 
United States of America, and Herbert W. Bowen, the plenipoten¬ 
tiary of the Republic of Venezuela, have agreed upon and signed the 
following protocol: 

Article I. All claims owned by citizens of the United States of 
America against the Republic of Venezuela which have not been set¬ 
tled by diplomatic agreement or by arbitration between the two Gov¬ 
ernments, and which shall have been presented to the commission 
hereinafter named by the Department of State of the United States 
or its legation at Caracas, shall be examined and decided by a mixed 
commission, which shall sit at Caracas, and which shall consist of two 
members, one of whom is to be appointed by the President of the 
United States and the other b}^ the President of Venezuela. 

It is agreed that an umpire may be named by the Queen of the 
Netherlands. If either of said commissioners or the umpire should 
fail or cease to act, his successor shall be appointed forthwith in the 
same manner as his predecessor. Said commissioners and umpire are 
to be appointed before the first of May, 1903. 

The commissioners and the umpire shall meet in the city of Caracas 
on the first day of June, 1903. The umpire shall preside over their 


HAGUE PROTOCOLS. 


593 


deliberations, and shall be competent to decide any question on which 
the commissioners disagree. Before assuming the functions of their 
office the commissioners and the umpire shall take solemn oath care¬ 
fully to examine and impartially decide, according to justice and the 
provisions of this convention, all claims submitted to them, and such 
oaths shall be entered on the record of their proceedings. The com¬ 
missioners, or in case of their disagreement, the umpire, shall decide 
all claims upon a basis of absolute equity, without regard to objections 
of a technical nature, or of the provisions of local legislation. 

The decisions of the commission, and in the event of their disagree¬ 
ment, those of the umpire, shall be final and conclusive. They shall 
be in writing. All awards shall be made payable in United States 
gold, or its equivalent in silver. 

Art. II. The commissioners, or umpire, as the case may be, shall 
investigate and decide said claims upon such evidence or information 
only as shall be furnished by or on behalf of the respective Govern¬ 
ments. They shall be bound to receive and consider all written docu¬ 
ments or statements which may be presented to them 1>3 T or on behalf 
of the respective Governments in support of or in answer to»any claim, 
and to hear oral or written arguments made bv the agent of each Gov- 
eminent on every claim. In case of their failure to agree in opinion 
upon any individual claim, the umpire shall decide. 

Every claim shall be formally presented to the commissioners within 
thirty days from the day of their first meeting, unless the commis¬ 
sioners or the umpire in any case extend the period for presenting the 
claim not exceeding three months longer. The commissioners shall 
be bound to examine and decide upon every claim within six months 
from the day of its first formal presentation, and in case of their dis¬ 
agreement, the umpire shall examine and decide within a correspond¬ 
ing period from the date of such disagreement. 

Art. III. The commissioners and the umpire shall keep an accurate 
record of their proceedings. For that purpose each commissioner 


shall appoint a secretary versed in the language of both countries, to 
assist them in the transaction of the business of the commission. 
Except as herein stipulated, all questions of procedure shall be left to 
the determination of the commission, or in case of their disagreement, 
to the umpire. 

Art. IV. Reasonable compensation to the commissioners and to the 
umpire for their services and expenses, and the other expenses oi said 
arbitration, are to be paid in equal moieties by the contracting parties. 

Art. V. In order to pay the total amount of the claims to be adju¬ 
dicated as aforesaid, and other claims of citizens or subjects of other 
nations, the Government of Venezuela shall set apart for this purpose, 
and alienate to no other purpose, beginning with the month of March, 
1903 , thirty per cent in monthly payments of the customs revenue of 


4a— 04-38 



594 


VENEZUELA. 


La Guaira and Puerto Cabello, and the payments thus set aside shall 
be divided and distributed in conformity with the decision of The 
Hague tribunal. 

In case of the failure to carry out the above agreement Belgian offi¬ 
cials shall be placed in charge of the customs of the two ports, and 
shall administer them until the liabilities of the Venezuelan Govern¬ 
ment in respect of the above claims shall have been discharged. The 
reference of the question above stated to The Hague tribunal will be 
the subject of a separate protocol. 

Art. VI. All existing and unsatisfied awards in favor of the United 
States shall be promptty paid, according to the terms of the respec¬ 
tive awards. 

John Hay. 

Herbert W. Bowen. 


[Note. —The protocols with the other peace powers, viz, France, Spain, Belgium, 
the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and Mexico, were the same, mutatis mutandis, 
as the United States protocol.] 


THE HAGUE PROTOCOL—ITALY. 


Whereas protocols have been signed between Venezuela on the one 
hand and Italy, Great Britain, German}", United States of America, 
France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and 
Mexico on the other hand, containing certain conditions agreed upon 
for the settlement of claims against the Venezuelan Government; 

And whereas certain further questions arising out of the action 
taken by the Governments of Italy, Germany, and Great Britain in 
connection with the settlement of their claims have not proved to be 
susceptible of settlement by ordinary diplomatic methods; 

And whereas the powers interested are resolved to determine these 
questions by reference to arbitration in accordance with the provision 
of the convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes 
signed at The Hague on the 29th July, 1899: 

The Governments of Venezuela and Italy, with a view to carry out 
that resolution, authorized their representatives, that is to say: 

For Venezuela, Mr. Herbert W. Bowen, duly authorized thereto by 
the Government of Venezuela; 

For Italy, His Excellency Nobile Edmondo Mayor des Planches, 
His Majesty the King of Italy’s ambassador extraordinary and pleni¬ 
potentiary to the United States of America, to conclude the following 
agreement: 

Article I. The question as to whether or not Italy, Germany, and 
Great Britain are entitled to preferential or separate treatment in the 
payment of their claims against Venezuela shall be submitted for final 
decision to the tribunal at The Hague. 

Venezuela having agreed to set aside thirty per cent of the customs 


HAGUE PROTOCOLS. 


595 


1 evenues of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello for the payment of the 
claims of all nations against Venezuela, the tribunal at The Hague 
shall decide how the said revenues shall be divided between the block¬ 
ading powers on the one hand and the other creditor powers on the 
other hand, and its decision shall be final. 

If preferential or separate treatment is not given to the blockading 
powers, the tribunal shall decide how the said revenues shall be dis¬ 
tributed among all the creditor powers, and the parties hereto agree 
that the tribunal, in that case, shall consider, in connection with the 
payment of the claims out of 30%, any preference or pledges of rev¬ 
enues enjoyed by any of the creditor powers, and shall accordingly 
decide the question of distribution so that no power shall obtain pref¬ 


erential treatment, and its decision shall be final. 

Art. II. The facts on which shall depend the decision of the ques¬ 
tions stated in Article I shall be ascertained in such manner as the 
tribunal may determine. 

Art. III. The Emperor of Russia shall be invited to name and 
appoint from the members of the permanent court of The Hague three 
arbitrators to constitute the tribunal which is to determine and settle 
the questions submitted to it under and by virtue of this agreement. 

None of the arbitrators so appointed shall be a citizen or a subject 
of any of the signatory or creditor powers. 

This tribunal shall meet on the first day of September, 1903, and 
shall render its decision within six months thereafter. 

Art. IV. The proceedings shall be carried on in the English lan¬ 
guage, but arguments may, with the permission of the tribunal, be 
made in an} r other language also. 

Except as herein otherwise stipulated, the procedure shall be regu¬ 
lated by the convention of The Hague of July 29th, 1899. 

Art. V. The tribunal shall, subject to the general provision laid 
down in article 57 of the international convention of July 29th, 1899, 
also decide how, when, and by whom the costs of this arbitration shall 
be paid. 

Art. VI. Any nation having claims against Venezuela may join as a 
party in the arbitration provided for by this agreement. 

Washington, D. C., May 7, 1903. 

Herbert W. Bowen. 

E. Mayor des Planches. 


THE HAGUE PROTOCOL—GREAT BRITAIN. 

Whereas protocols have been signed between Venezuela on the one 
hand and Great Britain, Germany, Italy, United States of America, 
France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and 
Mexico on the other hand, containing certain conditions agreed upon 
for the settlement of claims against the Venezuelan Government; 


596 


VENEZUELA. 


And whereas certain further questions arising out of the action 
taken by the Goverlaments of Great Britain, Germany, and Italy, in 
connection with the settlement of their claims, have not proved to be 
susceptible of settlement by ordinary diplomatic methods; 

And whereas the powers interested are resolved to determine these 
questions by reference to arbitration in accordance with the provisions 
of the convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes, 
signed at The Hague on the 29th July, 1899: 

The Governments of Venezuela and Great Britain have, with a view 
to carry out that resolution, authorized their representatives, that is 
to say: 

For Venezuela, Mr. Herbert W. Bowen, duly authorized thereto by 
the Government of Venezuela, and for Great Britain, His Excellency 
Sir Michael Henry Herbert, G. C. M. G., C. B., His Britannic Majesty’s 
ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States of 
America, to conclude the following agreement: 

Article I. The question as to whether or not Great Britain, Ger¬ 
many, and Italy are entitled to preferential or separate treatment in the 
payment of their claims against Venezuela shall be submitted for final 
decision to the tribunal at The Hague. 

Venezuela having agreed to set aside thirty per cent of the customs 
revenues of La Guaira and Puerto Cabelio for the payment of the 
claims of all nations against Venezuela, the tribunal at The Hague 
shall decide how the said revenues shall be divided between the block¬ 
ading powers on the one hand and the other creditor powers on the 
other hand, and its decision shall be final. 

If preferential or separate treatment is not given to the blockading 
powers, the tribunal shall decide how T the said revenues shall be dis¬ 
tributed among all the creditor powers, and the parties hereto agree 
that the tribunal in that case shall consider, in connection with the 
payment of the claims out of the 30 per cent, any preference or pledges 
of revenue enjoyed bj r any of the creditor powers, and shall accord¬ 
ingly decide the question of distribution so that no power shall obtain 
preferential treatment, and its decision shall be final. 

Art. II. The facts on which shall depend the decision of the ques¬ 
tions stated in Article I shall be ascertained in such manner as the 

» 

tribunal may determine. 

Art. Ill. The Emperor of Russia shall be invited to name and 
appoint from the members of the permanent court of The Hague 
three arbitrators to constitute the tribunal which is to determine and 
settle the questions submitted to it under and by virtue of this agree¬ 
ment. None of the arbitrators so appointed shall be a citizen or sub¬ 
ject of any of the signatory or creditor powers. 

This tribunal shall meet on the first day of September, 1903, and 
shall render its decision within six months thereafter. 

Art. IV. The proceedings shall be carried on in the English language, 


HAGUE PROTOCOLS. 


597 


but arguments may, with the permission of the tribunal, be made in 
any other language also. 

Except as herein otherwise stipulated, the procedure shall be regu¬ 
lated by the convention of The Hague of July 29, 1899. 

Art. \ . The tribunal shall, subject to the general provision laid 
down in article 57 of the international convention of July 29, 1899, 
also decide how, when, and by whom the costs of this arbitration shall 
be paid. 

Art. VI. Any nation having claims against Venezuela may join as 
a party in the arbitration provided for by this agreement. 

Done at Washington this seventh day of May, 1903. 

Herbert W. Bowen, 
Michael H. Herbert. 


THE HAGUE PROTOCOL—GERMANY. 


Whereas protocols have been signed between Germany, Great 
Britain, Italy, the United States of America, France, Spain, Belgium, 
The Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and Mexico, on the one hand, 
and Venezuela on the other hand, containing certain conditions 
agreed upon for the settlement of claims against the Venezuelan 
Government; 

And whereas certain further questions arising out of the action 
taken by the Governments of Germany, Great Britain, and Italy, in 
connection with the settlement of their claims, have not proved to be 
susceptible of settlement by ordinary diplomatic methods; 

And whereas the powers interested are resolved to determine these 
questions by reference to arbitration in accordance with the provisions 
of the convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes, 
signed at The Hague on the 29th July, 1899; 

Venezuela and Germany have, with a view to carry out that reso¬ 
lution, authorized their representatives, that is to say: 

Mr. Herbert W. Bowen, as plenipotentiary of the Government of 
Venezuela, and 

The Imperial German minister, Baron Speck von Sternberg, as 
representative of the Imperial German Government, to conclude the 
following agreement: 

Article I. The question as to whether or not Germany, Great 
Britain, and Italy are entitled to preferential or separate treatment in 
the payment of their claims against Venezuela shall be submitted for 
final decision to the tribunal at The Hague. 

Venezuela having agreed to set aside 30 per cent of the customs reve¬ 
nues of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello for the payment of the claims 
of all nations against Venezuela, the tribunal at The Hague shall 
decide how the said revenues shall be divided between the blockading 
powers on the one hand and the other creditor powers on the other 
hand, and its decision shall be final. 

If preferential or separate treatment is not given to the blockading 


598 


VENEZUELA. 


powers, the tribunal shall decide how the said revenues shall be dis¬ 
tributed among all the creditor powers, and the parties hereto agree 
that the tribunal in that case shall consider, in connection with the 
payment of the claims out of the 30per cent, any preference or pledges 
of revenue enjoyed by any of the creditor powers, and shall accord¬ 
ingly decide the question of distribution so that no power shall obtain 
preferential treatment, and its decision shall be final. 

Art. II. The facts on which shall depend the decision of the ques¬ 
tions stated in Article I shall be ascertained in such manner as the 
tribunal may determine. 

Art. III. The Emperor of Russia shall be invited to name and 
appoint from the members of the permanent court of The Hague three 
arbitrators to constitute the tribunal which is to determine and settle 
the questions submitted to it under and by virtue of this agreement. 
None of the arbitrators so appointed shall be a subject or citizen of 
any of the signatory or creditor powers. 

This tribunal shall meet on the first da} T of September, 1903, and 
shall render its decision within six months thereafter. 

Art. IV. The proceedings shall be carried on in the English lan¬ 
guage, but arguments may, with the permission of the tribunal, be made 
in any other language also. Except as herein otherwise stipulated, 
the procedure shall be regulated by the convention of The Hague of 
July 29th, 1899. 

Art. V. The tribunal shall, subject to the general provision laid 
down in article 57 of the international convention of July 29, 1899, 
also decide how, when, and by whom the cost of this arbitration shall 
be paid. 

Art. VI. Any nation having claims against Venezuela may join as 
a party in the arbitration provided for by this agreement. 

Done in duplicate at Washington this seventh day of May, one 
thousand nine hundred and three. 

Herbert W. Bowen. 

Sternberg. 

PERMANENT TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION OF THE HAGUE. 

AWARD OF THE TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION CONSTITUTED IN ACCORD¬ 
ANCE WITH THE PROTOCOLS SIGNED AT WASHINGTON ON MAY 7, 1903, 

BETWEEN GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, AND ITALY ON THE ONE HAND 

AND VENEZUELA ON THE OTHER HAND. 

The tribunal of arbitration constituted in virtue of the protocols 
signed at Washington on May 7, 1903, between Germany, Great Brit¬ 
ain, and Italy on the one hand and Venezuela on the other hand: 

Whereas other protocols were signed to the same effect by Belgium, 
France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway, and the 
United States of America on the one hand and Venezuela on the other 
hand; 


HAGUE COURT AWARD. 


599 


W hereas all these protocols declare the agreement of all the con¬ 
tracting parties with reference to the settlement of the claims against 
the Venezuelan Government; 

V hereas certain further questions arising out of the actions of the 
Governments of Germany, Great Britain, and Italy concerning- the set- 
tlement of their claims were not susceptible of solution by the ordi¬ 
nary diplomatic methods; 

Wher eas the powers interested decided to solve these questions by 
submitting them to arbitration, in conformity with the dispositions of 
the convention signed at The Hague on July 29, 1899, for the pacitic 
settlement of international disputes; 

Whereas in virtue of Article III of the protocols of Washington of 
Ma}^ 7, 1903, His Majesty the Emperor of Russia was requested by 
all the interested powers to name and appoint from among the mem¬ 
bers of the Permanent Court of Arbitration of The Hague three arbi¬ 
trators, who shall form the tribunal of arbitration charged with the 
solution and settlement of the questions which shall be submitted to it 
in virtue of the above-named protocols; 

Whereas none of the arbitrators thus named could be a citizen or 
subject of any of the signatory or creditor powers, and whereas the 
tribunal was to meet at The Hague on September 1, 1903, and render 
its award within a term of six months; 

His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, conforming to the request of 
all the signatory powers of the above-named protocols of Washington 
of May 7,1903, graciously named as arbitrators the following members 
of the Permanent Court of Arbitration: 

His Excellency Mr. N. V. Mouravieff, secretary of state of His 
Majesty the Emperor of Russia, actual privy councillor, minister of 
justice, and procurator-general of the Russian Empire; 

Mr. H. Lammasch, professor of criminal and of international law 
at the University of Vienna, member of the Upper House of the 
Austrian Parliament; and 

His Excellency Mr. F. de Martens, doctor of law, privy councillor, 
permanent member of the council of the Russian ministry of foreign 
Affairs, member of the u Institut de France; ’ 1 

Whereas by unforeseen circumstances the tribunal of arbitration 
could not be definitely constituted till October 1, 1903, the arbitrators, 
at their first meeting on that day, proceeding, in conformity with 
Article XXXIV of the convention of July 29, 1899, to the nomina¬ 
tion of the president of the tribunal, elected as such His Excellency 

Mr. Mouravieff, minister of justice; 

And whereas, in virtue of the protocols of Washington of May 7, 
1903, the above-named arbitrators, forming the legally constituted 
tribunal of arbitration, had to decide, in conformity with Article I 
of the protocols of Washington of May 7, 1903, the following points: 


600 


VENEZUELA. 


“The question as to whether or not Germany, Great Britain, and 
Italy are entitled to preferential or separate treatment in the payment 
of their claims against Venezuela; and its decision shall he final. 

“Venezuela having agreed to set aside 30 per cent of the customs 
revenues of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello for the pa} r ment of the 
claims of all nations against Venezuela, the tribunal at The Hague 
shall decide how the said revenues shall be divided between the block¬ 
ading powers on the one hand and the other creditor powers on the 
other hand; and its decisions shall be final. 

“If preferential or separate treatment is not given to the blockad¬ 
ing powers, the tribunal shall decide how the said revenues are to be 
distributed among all the creditor powers, and the parties hereto 
agree that the tribunal, in that case, shall consider, in connection with 
the payment of the claims out of the 30 per cent, any preference or 
pledges of revenues enjoyed by any of the creditor powers, and shall 
accordingly decide the question of distribution so that no power shall 
obtain preferential treatment; and its decision shall be final.” 

Whereas the above-named arbitrators, having examined with impar¬ 
tial^ and care all the documents and acts presented to the tribunal of 
arbitration by the agents of the powers interested in this litigation, 
and having listened with the greatest attention to the oral pleadings 
delivered before the tribunal by the agents and counsel of the parties 
to the litigation; 

Whereas the tribunal, in its examination of the present litigation, 
had to be guided by the principles of international law and the maxims 
of justice; 

Whereas the various protocols signed at Washington since February 
13, 1903, and particularly the protocols of May 7, 1903, the obligatory 
force of which is beyond all doubt, form the legal basis of the arbitral 
award; 

Whereas the tribunal has no competence at all, either to contest the 
jurisdiction of the mixed commissions of arbitration established at 
Caracas nor to judge their action; 

Whereas the tribunal considers itself absolutely incompetent to give 
a decision as to the character or the nature of the military operations 
undertaken by Germany, Great Britain, and Italy against Venezuela; 

Whereas also the tribunal of arbitration was not called upon to 
decide whether the three blockading powers had exhausted all pacific 
methods in their dispute with Venezuela in order to prevent the 
employment of force; 

And it can only state the fact that since 1901 the Government of 
Venezuela categorically refused to submit its dispute with Germany 
and Great Britain to arbitration which was proposed several times and 
especially by the note of the German Government of July 16, 1902; 

Whereas after the war between Germany, Great Britain, and Italy 


HAGUE COURT AWARD. 


601 


on the one hand and Venezuela on the other hand no formal treaty of 
peace was concluded between the belligerent powers; 

Whereas the protocols signed at Washington on February 13, 1903, 
had not settled all the questions in dispute between the belligerent 
parties, leaving open in particular the question of the distribution of 
the receipts of the customs of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello; 

Whe reas the belligerent powers in submitting the question of prefer¬ 
ential treatment in the matter of these receipts to the judgment of the 
tribunal of arbitration agreed that the arbitral award should serve 
to fill up this void and to ensure the definite reestablishment of peace 
between them; 

Whereas, on the other hand, the warlike operations of the three 
great European powers against Venezuela ceased before they had 
received satisfaction on all their claims, and, on the other hand, the 
question of preferential treatment was submitted to arbitration, the 
tribunal must recognize in these facts precious evidence in favour of 
the great principle of arbitration in all phases of international disputes; 

Whereas the blockading powers in admitting the adhesion to the 
stipulations of the protocols of February 13,1903, of the other powers 
which had claims against Venezuela could evidently not have the 
intention of renouncing either their acquired rights or their actual 
privileged position; 

Whereas the Government of Venezuela in the protocols of Febru¬ 
ary 13, 1903 (Article 1), itself recognises “in principle the justice of 
the claims” presented to it by the Governments of Germany, Great 
Britain, and Italy; 

While in the protocol signed between Venezuela and the so-called 
neutral or pacific powers the justice of the claims of these latter was 
not recognized in principle; 

Whereas the Government of Venezuela until the end of January, 
1903, in no way protested against the pretension of the blockading 
powers to insist on special securities for the settlement of their claims: 

Whereas Venezuela itself during the diplomatic negotiations always 
made a formal distinction between “the allied powers" and “ the 
neutral or pacific powers; ” 

Whereas the neutral powers, who claim before the tribunal of 
arbitration equality in the distribution of the 30 per cent of the 
customs receipts of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello, did not protest 
against the pretensions of the blockading powers to a preferential 
treatment either at the moment of the cessation of the war against 
Venezuela or immediately after the signature of the protocols of 
February 13, 1903; 

Whereas it appears from the negotiations which resulted in the sig¬ 
nature of the protocols of February 13 and May 7, 1903, that the 
German and British Governments constantly insisted on their being 
given guarantees tor “a sufficient and punctual discharge of the obli- 


602 


VENEZUELA. 


gations” (British memorandum of December 23, 1902, communicated 
to the Government of the United States of America); 

Whereas the plenipotentiary of the Government of Venezuela 
accepted this reservation on the part of the allied powers without 
the least protest; 

Whereas the Government of Venezuela engaged, with respect to 
the allied powers alone, to offer special guarantees for the accom¬ 
plishment of its engagements; 

Whereas the good faith which ought to govern international relations 
imposes the duty of stating that the words “all claims’- used by the 
representative of the Government of Venezuela in his conferences with 
the representatives of the allied powers (statement left in the hands of 
Sir Michael Herbert by Mr. H. Bowen of January 23, 1900) could 
only mean the claims of these latter and could onty refer to them; 

Whereas the neutral powers, having taken no part in the warlike 
operations against Venezuela, could in some respects profit by the cir¬ 
cumstances created by those operations, but without acquiring any 
new rights; 

Whereas the rights acquired by the neutral or pacific powers with 
regard to Venezuela remain in the future absolutely intact and guar¬ 
anteed by respective international arrangements; 

Whereas in virtue of Article V of the protocols of May 7, 1903, 
signed at Washington, the tribunal “shall also decide, subject to the 
general provisions laid down in Article LVII of the international con¬ 
vention of July 29, 1899, how, when, and bv whom the costs of this 
arbitration shall be paid:” 

For these reasons the tribunal of arbitration decides and pronounces 
unanimously that:— 

1. Germany, Great Britain, and Italy have a right to preferential 
treatment of their claims against Venezuela; 

2. Venezuela having consented to put aside 30 per cent of the reve¬ 
nues of the customs of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello for the pay¬ 
ment of the claims of all nations against Venezuela, the three above- 
named powers have a right to preference in the payment of their 
claims by means of this 30 per cent of the receipts of the two Vene¬ 
zuelan ports above mentioned; 

3. Each party to the litigation shall bear its own costs and an equal 
share of the costs of the tribunal. 

The Government of the United States of America is charged with 
seeing to the execution of this latter clause within a term of three 
months. 

Done at The Hague, in the permanent court of arbitration, Febru¬ 
ary 22, 1904, 

N. Mouravieff. 

H. Lammasch. 

Martens. 


PUBLIC TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS IN FORCE. 


The following list, supplied by the department of foreign affairs 
of Venezuela, contains the public treaties and conventions in force 
between Venezuela and foreign countries, namely: 

Treaty with Great Britain , friendship, commerce, and navigation, 
April 18, 1825 (Collection of Public Treaties, 1884, p. 25). 

Treaty with Great Britain , abolition of slave traffic, March 15, 1839 
(Col. of T., p. 53). 

Treaty with New Granada , friendship, commerce, and navigation 
(articles on political relations are the only ones in force), July 23, 
1842 (C. of T., p. 57). 

Treaty with Spain , peace and acknowledgment, May 27, 1845 (C. of 
T., p. 74). 

Treaty with Brazil , boundaries and river navigation, July 9, 1860 
(C. of T., p. 95). 

Treaty with Italy , friendship, commerce, and navigation, November 

24, 1862 (C. of T., p. 106). 

Convention with Derrmarh , trade and commerce marks, June 21, 
1879 (C. of T., p. 134). 

Treaty with Spain , commerce and navigation, May 20, 1882 (C. of 
T., p. 135). 

Convention with Belgium , juridic status of stock companies, May 

25, 1882 (C. of T., p. 138). 

Convention with Belgium , trade-marks, May 25, 1882 (C. of T., 
p. 139). 

Convention with Germany , trade-marks, July 11, 1882 (C. of 1., 
p. 140). 

Treaty with El Salvador , friendship, commerce, and navigation, 
December 24, 188T (Comp, of Laws and Decrees, Vol. XI, Law No. 

2707). 

Convention with El Salvador , consular, December 26, 1884 (C. of 
L. and D., Vol. XI, Law No. 2708). 

Treaty with Belgium , extradition, March 5, 1885 (G. of L. and D., 

Vol. XH, No. 2838). 

Treaty with Belgium, , friendship, commerce, and navigation (Yellow 
Book of Venezuela, 1886, p. 269). 

Treaty with Bolivia , extradition, January 12,1888 (C. of L. and D., 
Vol. XIV, L. No. 4028). 


603 


604 


VENEZUELA. 


Convention with Bolivia , consular, January 12, 1888 (C. of L. and 
D., Yol. XIV, L. No. 4029). 

Convention with France , renewal of friendly intercourse, January 
5, 1886 (C. of L. and I)., Yol. XII, L. No. 3333). 

Treaty with Spain , extradition, May 7, 1895 (C. of L. and D., Yol. 
XVII, L. No. 6240). 

Convention with France , commercial, February 19, 1902 (Report of 
Foreign Relation Department, 1904, p. 64 of Documents). 


GENERAL INDEX. 


Page. 

Acarigua, town of. 135 

Acknowledgmentof independence. 62 

Act of independence. 555-559 

Acts of Congress. 64 

Agricultural credit. 435 

Agricultural implements, market 

for. 269 

Agricultural museum. 176 

Agriculture. 147 

Central boards of. 177 

Exports. (See Commerce.) 

Imports. (See Commerce.) 

Alien law. 73 

Altagracia, town of. 140 

Amazonas territory. 141 

Amendments to constitution. 79 

Animal oils. 175 

Apure River. 22 

Aragua de Barcelona, towm of.... 120 

Aragua State. 118 

Arbitration tribunal, permanent.. 598 

Area. 12 

Army . 524 

Asphalt. 202,209,218 

Baggage regulations. 473 

Banking law. 436 

Bankruptcy. 84 

Banks and banking. 430 

Barbacoas, town of. 118 

Barcelona, city oi. 120 

Barinas, town of. 135 

Barks. 169 

Barquisimeto, city of. 129 

Basins, hydrographic. 23 

Bermudez State. 120 

Betijoque, town of. 133 

Bibliography. 543 

Birds. 30 

Bocono, town of. 133 

Bolivar State. 124 

Boundaries of States. 98 

Boundaries, settlement of. 7-9 

Brew r eries. 257 

Budget law. 406 

Bureau of registration. 112 

Business opportunities. 270 

Butter, tests applied to. 258 

Cabinet ministers.-. 68 


Page. 

Cables. 487 

Cabudare, town of. 128 

Cacao. 153 

Calabozo, city of. 128 

Camagudn, city of. 129 

Carabobo State. 125 

Caracas, city of. 98-108 

Caracas warehouse .. 270 

Carache, town of. 133 

Caronf River. 23 

Carora, town of. 130 

Cartography. 546 

Carupano, city of. 121 

Chamber of Commerce. 368 

Charayave, town of. 131 

Cheese manufactory. 259 

Chocolate manufactory. 259 

Cigarette factories. 259 

Cities and towns. 118-135 

Citizenship. 72 

Ciudad Bolivar, city of. 124 

Ciudad de Cura, town of. 118 

Civil courts. 80 

Civil law. 80 

Clays. 219 

Climatology. 16 

Coal. 202,211,217 

Coast. 10 

Cocoanuts. 162 

Codes. 79 

Fiscal. 359 

Mining. 221-253 

Coffee. 148,153 

Colonization. 491-498 

Colon Territory. 142 

Commerce. 273-404 

Commercial law. 82 

Congress. 63 

Constitution. 559-584 

Amendments to. 79 

Constitutional organization. 62 

Conventions. 603 

Copaiba oil. 162 

Copper. 202, 208, 216 

Copyright law. 519 

Coro, town of. 128 

Corn. 157 

Cotton. 156 


605 






























































































606 


GENERAL INDEX. 


Page. 

Cotton-goods manufactory. 260 

Criminal law. 81 

Cristobal Colon custom-house- 862 

Cua, town of. 131 

Cumana, city of. 120 

Cumanacoa, town of. 121 

Currency. 439-445 

Ratio of silver to gold (1687- 

1902). 450 

Customs: 

Duties. 405-407 

Houses. 362 

Laws. 359 

Receipts. 407 

Declaration of independence. 61, 555-559 

Debt, exteDial and internal_416-430 

Delta channels. 22 

Delta of Orinoco. 21 

Departments, Executive. 68-71 

Deposits, mineral. 204 

Districts. 98 

District, Federal. 98 

Division, political. 115 

Territorial. 97 

Duties, customs. 405, 407 

Education. 503 

Electric power plants. 261 

Emulsion factory. 261 

Ethnography. 31 

Executive chiefs. 67 

Expenditure and revenue.. 406,414,415 

Exporters, suggestions to. 289 

Exports. (See Commerce.) 

Falcon State. 128 

Fauna. 28 

Feathers. 175 

Federal District. 98 

Federal executive power. 64 

Federal Territories. 98,140 

Fibers. 172 

Financial organization. 405 

Fiscal code. 359 

Flora. 26 

Foreign companies. 83 

Foreigners, admission of. 76 

Forest products. 162 

Geographical data. 11 

Geographical position. 7 

Geographical sketch. 7 

Gold. 201,205,216 

Government. 61 

Guanare, town of. 135 

Guanta, town of. 121 

Guaranties. 77 


Page. 


Guarico State. 128 

Guaviare River. 22 

Guayabal, town of. 129 

Gulfs. 11 

Gums and resins. 170 

Hague Court award. 598 

Hat trade. 267 

Honey. 175 

House of Representatives. 63 

Hydrography. 20 

Immigration. 491 

Immigration law. 492 

Imports. (See Commerce.) 
Independence, act of, from Spain. 61, 


555-559 


India rubber. 158-161 

Indigo. 162 

Industries, manufacturing and 

other. 257,265,271,266 

Insects. 31 

Instruction. 503 

Insurance companies. 368 

Iron. 202,208,217 

Islands. 10 

Judicial power. 71 

Justice. 80 

La Grita, town of. 132 

La Guaira: 


City of. 108 

Harbor corporation. 463 

Port of. 108 

Water dues. 465 

Wharfage dues. 464 

Lakes. 11 

Land law. 179-188 

Lara State. 129 

Lard. 258 

Laundry, steam. 264 

La Victoria, city of. 118 

Laws: 


Alien. 73 

Application of. 80 

Banking. 436 

Bankruptcy. 84 

Budget. 406 

Civil. 80 

Commercial. 82 

Copyright. 519 

Criminal. 81 

Customs. 359 

Immigration. 492 

Land . 179-188 

Mining.. 220 

Patent. 512 



































































































GENERAL INDEX 


607 


Page. 

Laws—Continued. 

Public instruction. 503 

Railroad. 480 

Sanitary. 364 

Stamp. 445 

Tariff. 368-398 

Trade-marks. 516 

Lead. 202 

Leather manufactories. 262 

Legislative power. 62 

Libraries. 507 

Llanos. 18 

Maize. 157 

Manoa, port of. 364 

Manufacturing i nd ust ri es: 

Cheese. 259 

Chocolate. 259 

Cigarette.1.. 259 

Cotton goods. 260 

Emulsion. 261 

Leather. 262 

Match. 262 

Paper. 262 

Porcelain. 262 

Shoe. 264 

Various. 265 

Maracaibo: 

City of. 139 

Harbor improvements. 469 

Wharfage charges. 470 

Maracay, town of. 119 

Marble. 218 

Margarita, island of. 10,110 

Maritime hydrography. 20 

Market for United States manufac¬ 
tures . 268 

Maturfn, city of. 124 

Maturfn section. 122 

Means of communication. 455 

Merchants, standing of Venezuelan 288 

Merida, city of. 131 

Merida State. 130 

Meta River. 23 

Metric system. 527 

Meteorology. 19 

Minerals. 204,215,254 

Mineral coal. 217 

Mineral waters. 203,219 

Mining. 201 

Mining code. 221-253 

Miranda State. 131 

Mollusks. 31 

Montalban, town of. 126 

Mountain ranges. 17,18,19 


Page 

Museum, Agricultural. 176 

National Museum. 507 

Native races. 33-57 


Naturalized citizens 


Navy. 526 

Newspapers. 552 

Nirgua, town of. 126 

Nutrias, town of.. 135 

Ocumare, town of. 127-131 

Oils. 162,174 

Opportunities, business. 270 

For American enterprise. 290 

Ores. 216 

Orinoco hydrographical basin .... 21 

Orinoco, reopening of. 363 

Orinoco River. 10 

Organization of departments. 68 

Orography. 17 

Ortiz, town of. 119 

Ospino, town of. 135 

Pampan, town‘of. 133 

Paper factory. 262 

Paria hydrographical basin. 23 

Patents. 511 

Patent law. 512 

Peaks, height of principal. 19 

Pearl industry. 266 

Periodicals. 552 

Petare, city of. 110 

Petroleum. 202 

Plants. 171 

Political division ... 115 

Political rights and duties of Vene¬ 
zuelans . 73 

Population. 12 

Porcelain factories. 263 

Port of La Guaira. 108 

Port of Manoa. 364 

Postal service. 481 

President. 64 

Presidents, names of, from 1831- 

1904. 67 

Products: 

Agricultural. 147 

Animal. 175 

Forest. 

Protocols. 426, 585-602 

Puerto Cabello. 127,465-469 

Races, native. 33-57 

Railroads. 473-480 

Railroad law. 480 

Rainfall. 19 

Receipts, customs. 407 

Record of vessels....„,. 471 








































































































608 


SEP 27 1904 

ih 


GENERAL INDEX. 


Page. 

Registration bureau. 112 

Regulation: 

Baggage. 473 

For extra labor at entry ports. 471 

Religion. 88 

Reptiles. 31 

Resins and gums. 170 

Revenue. 405 

Revenue and expenditure.. 406, 414, 415 
Rights and duties of foreigners ... 73 

Rfo Caribe, town of. 122 

Rfo Chico, city of. 131 

Rivers. 10 , 22 

Rubber, india. 158-161 

Rule of the Spanish Crown. 61 

Salt. 203, 213 

San Carlos, city of. 135 

San Carlos del Zulia, town of. 140 

San Casimiro, town of. 132 

San Cristobal, city of. 132 

Sanitary laws. 364 

San Jacinto, town of. 133 

San Lazaro, town of. 133 

San Mateo, town of. 119 

Santa Rita, town of. 140 

Schools. 504-507 

Senate. 03 

Shipping returns. 456 

Sinamaica, town of. 140 

Skins. 175 

Starch. 173 

Steam laundry. 264 

Shoe factories. 264 

Silk-spinning spiders. 264 

Stamp law. 445 

Section, Maturfn. 122 

States: 

Boundaries of. 98 

Constitutions of. 62 

Rights and obligations of. 115 

Aragua. 118 

Bermudez. 120 

Bolfyar. 124 

Carabobo-. 125 

Falcon. 128 

Guiirico. 128 

kara. 129 

Merida. 130 

Miranda. 131 

TYichira. 232 

Trujillo. 132 

Zamora. 134 

Zulia . 136 


Page. 

Steamship companies. 455 

Stock raising. 193 

Stone, building. 218 

Sugar cane. 111,155 

Sulphur. 203, 212 

Supreme Federal Court. 71 

Tach ira State. 13? 

Tariba, town of. 132 

Tariff law. 368-398 

Tax: 

On alcohol and tobacco . Ill 

War. 411 

Telegraphs... 485 

Telephones. 486 

Territorial divisions. 97 

Territories, Federal. 98,140 

Tinaquillo, town of. 127 

Tobacco-.. Ill 

Tocuvo, town of. 130 

Tonka beans. 

Topography. 

Trade, hat. 267 

Trade-marks. 515 

Trade-marks law. 516 

Traffic with Coloml >ia, reestablish¬ 
ment of. 36 I 

Tramways. 481 

Transshipment from West Indies. 364 

Treaties, public. 603 

Trials. 80 

Trujillo, city of. 15 

Trujillo State. 132 

Tucacas custom-house.. .. 362 

Valencia, city of.j.. .. 125 

Valencia Lake. 24 

Vanilla. 162 

Vegetation, forms of. 26 

Vegetable oils. 174 

Vice-Presidents, names of, from 

1831 to 1904. *67 

War tax. 411 

Waters, mineral. 219 

Wax . 175 

Weights and measures. 528 

West Indies, transshipment from. 364 

Wheat. i 6 i 

Winds. 1 7> 20 

Woods . 163,169 

Yaritagua, town of. 130 

Zamora State. 134 

Zaraza, town of. 129 

Zones, area of. 12 

Zulia State 136 



LB Mr ’05 





















































































































































